Bachata
Windmill
Also known as: Windmill turn, molinillo
A continuous store-and-release turn where the joined arms wind and unwind like sails, driving repeating rotations without breaking the connection.
What This Move Is
A turning figure in which both joined hands cycle in a continuous winding motion — the 'sails' — so the follow can be led through repeating rotations from a single sustained lead. The looping arms store and release energy to keep the turn going.
Key Points
- Lead: Keep the windmill even, level and unbroken; each cycle should flow into the next without a stop.
- Follow: Turn steadily inside the mill and keep your frame round, spotting honestly each rotation.
- Timing: Continuous over 8 counts or more.
- Common mistake: Letting the circle drop or shrink mid-turn, which drags the follow off her axis.
Style Notes
A satisfying continuous turn for a driving musical passage. Keep the mill big and level and resolve out into open position or a spiral.
- Musical use
- Filler
- Level
- Advanced
- Type
- Turns & Patterns
- Frame
- Open
- Style
- Modern
Chains into
After this, you can flow into…