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Free Spin › History › Revision 4

Revision 4

current

bendichter · Oct 9, 2026, 4:20 PM · Shortened the description. Free spins usually come from a left side pass.

← Revision 3

Changes from revision 3

−Any pattern where the follower is released to turn without hand connection — most commonly a [[Right Side Pass|right side pass]] or tuck released into a full free turn.
− 
−The lead is finished **before** the spin begins: rotation is offered on the setup counts, the hand releases, and the follower owns the turn. A clean free spin is a spotlight moment for the follower's balance and spotting technique, and one of the most common places musicality happens ("hit the break with a free spin").
− 
−## Common notes
+Any pattern where the follower is released to turn without a hand connection, most commonly a [[Left Side Pass|left side pass]] or tuck released into a full free turn. The lead is finished before the spin begins: rotation is offered on the setup counts, the hand releases, and the follower completes the turn alone.
 
−- Brian B likes to initiate the basic free spin from the leader's **right** hand (reached from a [[Sugar Push|sugar push]]) so the follower never has a hand over their head.[^1]
−- The prep follows the same rule as other turns: two preps are taught but only the second is needed, and the most advanced version is just a slight *expansion* on count 2 — "when this is done well you shouldn't actually see the hand move."[^2]
−- Clear follower footwork on "3-and" (close the feet, step down the line, pivot) is what makes free-spin variations leadable — the leader needs that moment to pick up the follower's back and redirect.[^3]
+Brian B starts the basic free spin from the leader's right hand, reached from a [[Sugar Push|sugar push]], so the follower never has a hand over their head.[^1] The prep can be as small as a slight expansion on count 2.[^2] Follower footwork on "3-and" (close the feet, step down the line, pivot) gives the leader a moment to pick up the follower's back and redirect in free-spin variations.[^3]
 
[^1]: Brian B & Megan, West Coast Swing Online, ["3 Free Spin Variations for West Coast Swing!"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyZsVRB89ik&t=22s) at 0:22.
[^2]: Brian B & Megan, West Coast Swing Online, ["3 Free Spin Variations for West Coast Swing!"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyZsVRB89ik&t=93s) at 1:33–2:18.
[^3]: Brian B & Megan, West Coast Swing Online, ["3 Free Spin Variations for West Coast Swing!"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyZsVRB89ik&t=146s) at 2:26–3:23.
Page as of this revision

Free Spin

intermediate

also known as: Follower's Free Spin · Push Spin

Any pattern where the follower is released to turn without a hand connection, most commonly a left side pass or tuck released into a full free turn. The lead is finished before the spin begins: rotation is offered on the setup counts, the hand releases, and the follower completes the turn alone.

Brian B starts the basic free spin from the leader's right hand, reached from a sugar push, so the follower never has a hand over their head.1 The prep can be as small as a slight expansion on count 2.2 Follower footwork on "3-and" (close the feet, step down the line, pivot) gives the leader a moment to pick up the follower's back and redirect in free-spin variations.3

Footnotes

  1. Brian B & Megan, West Coast Swing Online, "3 Free Spin Variations for West Coast Swing!" at 0:22. ↩

  2. Brian B & Megan, West Coast Swing Online, "3 Free Spin Variations for West Coast Swing!" at 1:33–2:18. ↩

  3. Brian B & Megan, West Coast Swing Online, "3 Free Spin Variations for West Coast Swing!" at 2:26–3:23. ↩