Actually you can both be right...
Spinning an essay on…...
There are a number of different timing methods used for multiple spins, taught by many big name teachers. A lot depends on how many spins you’re about to do and the preperation step required.
A Mambo turn ie a single turn from a mambo step consists of a forward step on the 5, a step onto the right foot on 6, pivoting and bringing the feet together on 7. This means the actual rotation takes place during the 6/7.
The lead consists of the leader drawing the arm up on the 3/4 and guiding the partner around on the 5/6/7 allowing the hand to drop down to center on the 7. At all times the hand should stay in front of the follower.
On multiple spins it is dependent on the number of spins required and also occasionally dependent on the step following the spin.
Essentially the spinner requires a preperation step and 1 beat per spin.
On a double spin the prep is forwards on the 5 pushing off ‘landing’ on the 6, and pushing and ‘landing’ again on the 7.
This can be transposed to a triple spin in the same way.
Prep forward on the 5 pushing off ‘landing’ on the 6, pushing and ‘landing’ on the 7 and again on the 8. Breaking back on the 1.
However this causes problems if you want to do 4 spins as you run out of time. So very often for 3 or 4 spins the prep step is taken a beat or two earlier. So the prep step is on the 4 turning on the 5/6/7/8.
A few places teach the prep on the 3 starting the turn on 4/5/6/7 this however requires a different spinning technique and is actually a borrowed technique from on2 dancers where it works very effectively, however if dancing on1 it is not as effective and is responsible for a lot of dancers looking like spinning tops. Ie all they are doing is setting themselves up for spins and not dancing their basic steps. That however is a completely different subject... :)
With regards to the lead of multiple spins just prior to the prep step a compression block is required, this means the hand comes up in front palms faced away with a slight compression between the two. It is best to practice this initially on a right to right hand lead.
If doing a double spin have the lead in place on the 4 so the follower knows that the 5 is her prep step.
Followers technique - The leading hand should be in front of the forehead with the arm in a comfortable L shape. It is important that the hand stays away from the head at all times and the elbow stays down. As compression is applied you can use this frame to help with your momentum.
Always spin one at a time, don’t try to anticipate a double or a triple etc. Otherwise you will miss the leads and you’re technique will develop into just being able to do a double etc and you’ll get caught out when more spins are being lead.
Leaders’ technique - Again the leading hand should stay in front of your partners head at all times, however the leaders elbow should raise out to the side close to the same height as the hand, providing a pushing feeling. This acts as your on/off switch.
When leading the spin the ‘pulse’ of the push is at the leaders’ 12pm position when the hand is furthest away from you. The signal for a spin to continue is as simple as maintaining the hand and elbow in the up compression position.
In order to signal the end of the spins soften the last pulse and immediately after the pulse allow the elbow to relax downwards followed by the hand and keep the hand slightly to the right providing a very slight compression at shoulder height for the follower, providing her with a little bit of help in slowing the moment.
A few tips for the spinner. Spinning is about controlling momentum and balance. When spinning you try to send the momentum into your center rather than away from it.
A simple exercise in momentum is to sit in an office chair and spin around if you put your arms and legs out you will slow down as you bring them into the center you will speed up.
From a practical point of view, keep your legs bent and pull in your lower stomach. This will help control the most common problems of loss of posture and balance.
The prep step is a very small step forward on the left foot keeping most of your weight on your rear spinning leg.
Momentum is provided by the torque of the upper body, the leading hand rotating the shoulder. And by pushing with the prep (left) foot. As you push and start to turn the final ‘flick’ of your push will coinside with the ‘12pm’ pulse from the leader.
During the spin keep the knees and feet close together.
To push off again into your next spin allow your prep foot to come slightly forwards again and repeat.
To stop spinning transfer your weight onto the prep (left) foot. Again keeping the knees together and pulling in the stomach.
I hope this makes sense and actually helps, as always go and ask your teacher during or after a class, I and any teacher I know will be more than happy to help.
Just a quick point, the techniques described are not some arbitrary method I’ve developed but standard methods taught across many different dances throughout the world.
