The postie, 'Germandanceteacher' I believe got it right! If we consider that the basic turns in the modern waltz are 3/4 turns danced over 6 steps, then this amount of turn can be danced by the gent over 3 steps. Hence the name, Double Reverse Spin.

Except that it isn't three steps.

It's two or four depending on who is counting.

Quite true Nerd. I'll be technical: It's 2 steps and a Toe pivot. The lady, of course, uses 4 steps. Can be danced using 7 alignments with 6 different amounts of turn.

Depends on your definition of "step". If you're thinking in terms of actual weight changes, then you've got a point. The man has two weight changes while the lady has four.

But if you think of the word "step" as simply a part of a process, then it can be any type of action, weight change or not. For example, I'm following the instructions on how to program my VCR. Step 1 says "Press the power button on your VCR". Pressing a button doesn't involve a weight change, but it is a step nonetheless, albeit by a completely different definition of the word.

Interestingly enough, it turns out that the ISTD views the word "step" as having the latter definition, because if you read the Ballroom Technique book, you'll see that they list a total of 3 steps for the man's part of Double Reverse Spin -- the third step being the man's toe pivot, which doesn't involve a weight change.

Another fine example of the ambiguity of our language.

Regards,
Jonathan

Don't know if I agree with that as the reason the term came into being. I've heard other explanations which sound more plausible. However, rather than worrying about giving an accurate history lesson to my own students, I like to justify the term Double Reverse Spin with the following simple explanation:

The Double Reverse Spin, though not two complete rotations, is in fact two separate turns compressed into one measure. The first is a heel turn whereby the lady turns at the center of a cicle while the man turns around the perimeter. The second is a toe pivot / viennese cross whereby the man turns at the center of the circle while the lady turns around the perimeter. When all is said and done, you've danced around two different circles.

Again, this probably isn't an accurate account of how the term Double Reverse Spin came into being, but it should satisfy any inquiries as to why someone would want to give it this name nowadays.

Regards,
Jonathan Atkinson

Just call the Double Revers Spin. The Maxwell Stewert Spin. Naming it after the man who introduced it.