80. SPIN CHAIN THE GEARS: Starting formation - Parallel Ocean Waves.
Each end and the adjacent center dancer turn one-half (180 degrees).
The new centers of each ocean wave turn three-quarters (270 degrees)
to form a new ocean wave across the set, as the other four dancers do
a U Turn Back (turning in toward the center). The centers of the wave
Trade and then release hands with each other. Four dancers on each
side of the square now form a four-hand star and turn the star
three-quarters, forming a new wave across the set. Centers of this wave
Trade momentarily reforming the wave across the set. The two outside
pairs of dancers of the center wave now turn three-quarters (270 degrees)
as the other four dancers turn back (turning away from the center).
Timing: 24 counts.
There are three call in the Plus program that are built on the MS call
Spin Chain Thru. Dancers should be comfortable with Spin Chain Thru
before being taught Spin Chain the Gears. After putting the dancers in
Parallel Waves (callers choice of arrangements) tell the dancers that
they are going to learn a call similar to Spin Chain Thru, BUT we will
interrupt the call with a Star that makes the call a Gear. By this time
dancers should know that all call that starts with the word Chain be-
gins with the outside dancer and the adjacent dancer turning 1/2. Also,
they should know that when they hear the word Chain, they should know
that some dancers will be trading. Spin Chain The Gears has all of these.
If the dancers are in a Right Hand Wave, tell the dancers to turn 1/2 by the
right. Those now in the center of the wave will turn 3/4 by the left hand (of
course it will be other hand in both cases if they start in a Left Hand
Wave). Point out to them that now there is a wave down the center and the dancers that didn’t turn by the left are standing by themselves. We will
call these dancers Points. In the wave the very Center dancers will Trade.
While they are trading have the Point dancers do a U Turn Back and get
to form a four handed Star which is the Gears. Once they have formed the
Star, tell them that they will turn the Star 3/4. Point out to them that the Point dancer that is facing out before the 3/4 turn will join another dancer in the
center of the square to join hands. Now turn the Star until the two facing
Point dancers are touching. When they touch hands they will trade with
each other (these two trades makes for the Chain part of the call). Now
we still have a wave down the center with new Points dancers. These new Point dancers will step away from the center action and do a U Turn Back.
The ones in the wave will turn 3/4 to join hands with the Points that did
the last U Turn Back.
Hint: There seems to be three trouble areas to watch for. 1. The first Point
dancers will forget to turn back and get into the action. 2. The facing out
Point dancer will lose track of how far a 3/4 turn will take them. 3. In each
wave the centers will forget to Trade.
Spin Chain The Gears is considered a Zero or Technical Zero movement.
That is when the dancers Finnish the movement they should be beside the
dancer they started with. They will just be on the other end of the square.
Ends will remain Ends and Centers will remain Centers. Since this is an
eight dancer movement, it can only be used from parallel waves at this
level.
The following routine examples are mainly for get - ins and get - outs for
those that want to use different arrangements.
Routine examples:
Singing Call:
Heads Square Thru
Do Sa Do (for timing)
Spin Chain the Gears
Swing Thru (here one can use Scoot Back
Boys Trade instead of these two calls)
Swing & Promenade
Heads square Thru
Slide Thru
Right & Left Thru
Dixie Style to a Wave
Spin Chain the Gears (It’s a Lefty)
Girls Run
Couples Circulate
Ferris Wheel
Pass Thru
L.A.
You are home
Heads Square Thru
Touch 1/4
Spin chain the Gears (BGBG)
Boys Run
Right and Left Thru
Slide Thru
L.A. & Promenade
Heads Square Thru
Touch 1/4
Centers Trade
Spin Chain The Gears (BBGG)
Centers Run
Star Thru
Double Pass Thru
Track 2
Recycle
Pass Thru
Trade By
Slide Thru
Dixie Style to a Wave
Boys Trade
L.A.