What is the "Big Top"

[DanceMentor]

I know this is a move in Standard, but I'm not sure what it looks like. Does anyone know?

[Chris Stratton]

I think I overheard someone explain it as a reverse (in contrast to natural) outside spin. However, attempting to execute such was like playing speed twister, so I'll defer detailed analysis to those who know what they are talking about.

But since it's a rainy day, I'll type up this excerpt from the last foxtrot group in Popular Variations:

8.Q. RF forward in PP pointing down LOD (Lady LF forward in PP pointing DC)

9.Q. Man turns his body to L leaving LF at back, while leading Lady to step foward and to side with RF, turning to L to get square to Man. Man's weight on RF.

10.Q. Man continues to turn his body to L by moving the LF well behind RF, now backing the LOD (Lady brushes LF to RF without weight on Toes)

11.Q. Man presses upwards from Ball of LF as he continue to turn his body to L and then lowers again as he slips the RF back, to centre, Lady in line, and pivots to L to face diag wall, holding LF forward

This actually does start to sound like a wrong way outside spin commenced in PP, with the delay between the partner's weight changes formalized to an actual seperation over two quicks.