A Tuck-In Turn is a figure similar in foot positions to the Underarm Turn to Right (figure #4), but where the man releases the lady, allowing her to spin completely on her own. In order to lead the turn without guiding her under the raised hand, the man first "tucks her in" -- a winding up in the opposite direction to prepare the turn -- and then provides a push impulse as a lead to turn, before releasing her.

The Open Tuck-In Turn, better known as the American Spin, is one that begins in open facing position with a RH-RH hold. To lead the tuck-in action, the man retracts his right hand towards his right hip and then braces it, increasing tone in the connection as they take their first compact chasse (1a2). The push impulse is given, and the hand hold released, immediately after count 2. She proceeds to turn in place, taking a compact chasse (3a4), until they end in open facing position for the final rock step (1,2). Following the spin, the man can take any hand hold desired, such as LH-RH, RH-RH, or two-hand hold.

If ended with a RH-RH hold, the American Spin can be repeated as desired.

Variations of Turn

As is the case with the Underarm Turn to Right and Closed Tuck-in, the Open Tuck-In is flexible in the total amount of turn taken by the lady, based on the man's lead and how much he turns himself. As shown in the man's & lady's charts, the lady takes 1 full turn, while the man has no turn at all. He may also lead her to turn 7/8 to right while he turns 1/8 to left, or she can turn 3/4 to right while her turns 1/4 to left. With either of these alternatives, he will need to take his second chasse to the side, curving slightly around the lady.