In the spot turn the balls of both feet remain stationary while the body is turning. The body weight can be divided on both feet and the support of both legs can be used. Thus the balance is more steady than in one-foot turns. Spot turn is one of the basic dancing techniques, which is used in many figures.
When danced as a separate figure, you start the spot turn with a cross step in front of the body. You can then turn the whole 360° by uncrossing the legs and then crossing them in the opposite direction. In practice, you need not and should not turn all the 360° on two feet: it is more convenient an elegant to start the turn on the cross step and finish the turn on the step following the spot turn proper.
Both dancers can make the spot turn simultaneously, or the man can lead the lady to turn alone. The most common type of an underarm turn is a spot turn for the lady.
| Measure | Beat | Step | Turn | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | one | Left foot to side | |
| 2 | two | Right foot across the body in front of left foot | 360° turn clockwise. The weight can be divided on both feet, but at the end of the turn the weight must be transerred on left foot | |
| 3 | three | Weight back on left foot | ||
| 4 | cha | Right foot to side | ||
| cha | Left foot closed to right foot | |||
| 2 | 1 | cha | Right foot to side | |
Common mistake is to leave the weight on the wrong foot on the beat 3. Then the intended step on the beat 4 cannot be taken.
| Measure | Beat | Step | Turn | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | one | Right foot to side | |
| 2 | two | Left foot across the body in front of right foot | 360° turn counterclockwise. The weight can be divided on both feet, but at the end of the turn the weight must be transerred on right foot | |
| 3 | three | Weight back on right foot | ||
| 4 | cha | Left foot to side | ||
| cha | Right foot closed to left foot | |||
| 2 | 1 | cha | Left foot to side | |
The dancers turn simultaneously, the man counterclockwise and the lady clockwise. The turn is danced on the second measure, half basic step on the first.
Now the man turns clockwise and the lady counterclockwise. The turn is danced on the first measure, half basic step on the second.
A pancake is a spot turn with both hand hold. Both dancers turn under their connected hands.