Definitions of Square Dance Calls and Concepts -- Spin The Windmill {direction} [A2]

Spin The Windmill direction -- [A2]
(Holman Hudspeth 1968)

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From a Generalized 1/4 Tag, Generalized Columns with the Centers facing In, or other applicable formations.

Centers: Arm Turn 1/2; Very Centers Trade; & Cast Off 3/4.
Outsides: Individually turn 1/4 toward the given direction & Circulate twice.

Generalized Columns or Generalized 1/4 Tag ends in Parallel Lines.

From a 1/4 Tag:

before
Spin The Windmill In after
Centers Arm Turn 1/2
as Outsides 1/4 In after
Very Centers Trade
as Outsides Circulate once after
Centers Cast Off 3/4
as Outsides Circulate again
(done)

From a Galaxy:

before
Spin The Windmill Left after
Centers Arm Turn 1/2
as Outsides 1/4 Left after
Very Centers Trade
as Outsides Circulate once after
Centers Cast Off 3/4
as Outsides Circulate again
(done)

Notes:

The given direction is usually In, Out, Right, or Left. Occasionally, the caller may use Forward (or As You Are) (meaning don't Turn 1/4) or Back (meaning do a U-Turn Back).
The caller can modify how far the Outsides Circulate. For example, Spin The Windmill Right But Ends Circulate 1 & 1/2.
Left Spin The Windmill direction: From a formation in which the Centers are in a Left-hand Wave or Facing Couples. The 'Left' applies only to the Centers. If the Centers start in a L-H Wave, the word 'Left' is not necessary, but is just a 'helper' word used by the caller. On the call Left Spin The Windmill Right, 'Left' applies to the Centers, and 'Right' applies to the Outsides. Outsides do not do the mirror image of Spin The Windmill Right.
The Centers part of Spin The Windmill can also be thought of as an Any Hand Swing Thru (Arm Turn 1/2 + Very Centers Trade) then Cast Off 3/4. Be sure to do the Cast Off 3/4 precisely and then hold your position within the Center Box. Don't necessarily expect someone to connect to you to form Parallel Lines or Waves. It may be that the starting formation was T-Bone, the caller directed the Outsides to Circulate a different amount, or the caller gave the Outsides a different call.
The Outsides part is to individually turn 1/4 toward the given direction and then Circulate twice. First turn 1/4 in place, then 'take a mental snapshot' of the 4-dancer Outside formation. Now, Circulate two spots within that formation. Count the spots as you go! You may or may not end holding hands with a Center dancer. Moreover, after the turn 1/4, you may be facing or back-to-back with the other End: don't panic - just do your part and Circulate two positions.
Use the following hints to verify that you are in the correct ending position:
- On Spin The Windmill Out, Ends finish facing Out.
- On Spin The Windmill In, Ends finish facing In.
The default direction for Spin The Windmill is 'Left'. However, this is somewhat esoteric and based on historical usage. Most likely, no caller today would call Spin The Windmill and expect the Outsides to know that they are supposed to go Left!
Occasionally, a caller might give another call instead of a direction. For example, Spin The Windmill Zig-Zag: the Ends do a Zig-Zag then Circulate twice.

anything The Windmill [C1]: From various formations. All or Center 4 do the anything call; Centers Cast Off 3/4 as Outsides turn 1/4 toward the given direction & Circulate twice. Ends in various formations.

Reciprocate [C4] (Hank Drumm 1974): From applicable formations such as a Generalized 1/4 Tag or Generalized Columns in which the centers are facing. Centers Spin The Windmill as Ends Divide and Touch 3/4. Usually ends in Columns.

CALLERLAB definition for Spin the Windmill

Choreography for Spin The Windmill direction

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