The Fan is named for the dance position achieved at the end of the figure, Fan position. Fan is an open position, whereby man and lady are positioned perpendicular to each other, lady on man's left side, with a LH-RH hold.

To achieve Fan position, the man leads the lady to his left side during the second half (steps 5-10) of a Closed Basic Movement. He leads this by turning the lady to her left on step 6, releasing his right hand from her back, increasing tone in left arm, and then extending the arm to side with slight pressure over steps 8-10.