The American Spin is a common move in Lindy Hop, and is also common in most of the dances that have evolved
from Lindy Hop (such as Ballroom Jive,
Modern Jive,
Boogie-Woogie and Rock and Roll). The leader prepares to
lead the move by drawing his hand across at waist height in the opposite direction to the spin; he follows
this by flicking his hand back to left and letting go to indicate to the follower that she should spin.
While the follower is rotating, the leader can also choose to spin himself, typically in an anticlockwise
direction.
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1. M:BL W:BR Start from an open position, with the leader's left hand holding the follower's right hand. The leader takes a step backward on his left foot, rocking his weight back on that foot and pushing the follower away slightly with left hand. The follower takes a step backward on her right foot, rocking her weight momentarily onto right foot.
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2. M:RR W:RL The leader replaces his weight on his right foot, pulling his right hand towards himself slightly. The follower replaces her weight on her left foot, rocking her weight back onto left foot.
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3. M:eFL1R W:eFR1L The leader takes a step slightly forward on his left foot, turning slightly to his right, drawing his left hand across to the right at waist height. The follower takes a step slightly forward on her right foot, turning slightly to her left.
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(image: lead across to side) |
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&. M:TR W:TL The leader closes his right foot to his left foot. The follower closes her left foot to her right foot.
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4. M:TL W:TR The leader closes his left foot to his right foot, preparing the spin by tensing his left hand. The follower closes her right foot to her left foot.
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(image: handhold closeup) |
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5. M:eHR1L W:XL3R The leader takes a step with his right foot slightly back and behind his other foot, turning slightly to his left, leading the spin by flicking his left hand to the left at waist height, letting go. The follower takes a step with her left foot across and in front of her other foot, turning almost 180° to her right.
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(image: direction of lead) |
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&. M:TL W:TR4R The leader closes his left foot to his right foot. The follower closes her right foot to her left foot, continuing to turn another 180° to her right.
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6. M:TR W:TL2R The leader closes his right foot to his left foot, extending his left hand as the follower completes her spin. The follower closes her left foot to her right foot, continuing to turn another 90° to her right, taking the leader's left hand with her right hand as she completes the spin.
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