Spin Chain Who?

 When you hear Spin Chain..., what do you do?  There are actually three calls by the time you get to Plus level dancing that begin with the words Spin Chain… .  How do you tell them apart, and how do you do them all successfully?
 Spin Chain Thru is the first of the family that you were introduced to in Mainstream.  Its definition is (from standard right handed ocean waves) the center and adjacent end turn one half.  The new centers cast three quarters with each other, the very centers trade, then those in the central wave - center and adjacent end - cast three quarters.  The critical thing here is that the people who are on the ends of the waves after the first half turn must remain absolutely still after the first turn (unless cued by the caller to do something else.)  Often the Caller will cue those ends to circulate one or two places while the others are completing their part of the call.
 This is all very easy until you are introduced to the second of the Spin Chain Family:  Spin Chain the Gears.  The definition is; (from standard right handed ocean waves) The center and the ends of each wave turn one half, the new centers cast three quarters while the ends of the original waves do a U Turn Back, the very centers trade.  This leaves you with two stars, which now turn three-quarters.  The new very centers trade then cast three quarters with the ends of their central wave while the others do a U Turn Back, ending in parallel ocean waves.
 Hint:  You can think of the stars as diamonds and the three quarter turn as three diamond circulates (you don't need to clap for each one).
 The third call of the Spin Chain Family is Spin Chain and Exchange the Gears.  The definition is (again, from standard right handed ocean waves), the center and adjacent end turn one half.  The new centers cast three quarters and the very centers trade while the new ends do a U Turn Back.  Turn the stars three quarters and begin the exchange, which is like tracing the outside of the star on the other side (looping around to the right).  When the leader is approximately opposite her starting point she does a U Turn Back and Touch One-Quarter with the dancer behind her.  The third dancer in the line turns one quarter right and the fourth dancer steps up to become the end of the new ocean wave.
 Hint:  The outfacing end after the first U Turn Back should raise her hand to signal a 'follow me' for the exchange.
 So how do you tell them apart?  Actually the critical dancers are the original centers of the ocean waves.  In Spin Chain Thru, the original centers become the ends (after the first half turn - and must stop and stand still (unless cued to do something else by the caller), and hold that position while the others finish their part of the call.  In Spin Chain the Gears after the first half turn and the ends do their U Turn Back, the ends that are facing out are the ones who will become the very centers after the star turns three-quarters.  They are the ones who will trade, then cast three quarters to finish the call.  In Spin Chain and Exchange the Gears, it is that same outfacing end that will lead the exchange to complete the call.
 Dancing successfully.  Listen to the Caller.  Make sure that you know which of the calls you are supposed to be doing.  For Spin Chain Thru, if you are an end after the first half turn, stand still!  In Spin Chain the Gears, if you are an end after the first half turn, do your U Turn Back and make sure you aren't left behind when the star turns.  For Spin Chain and Exchange the Gears, if you are the outfacing end after the first half turn and U Turn Back, make sure that you put up your hand to signal to the others that they should follow you for the exchange.

John Oldfield