The definition of <anything> and Spread is currently in a state of some confusion.  The Plus definition does not really articulate a rule per se, but rather describes three situations in which it might be used: 

- The first is the case where specific dancers are named as the spreaders (e.g. Heads Slide Thru and Spread), in which case they slide apart sideways and the inactive people step in between them. 

- The second situation is where the previous call ends in lines or waves, in which case the centers slide sideways into the adjacent end spot and the ends slide inwards into the adjacent center position. 

- The third situation is where the previous call ends in leading/trailing couples (e.g. Wheel and Deal from lines facing out), in which case the leaders spread sideways and the trailers step in between them. 

- In addition to these, there is a fourth case defined in the preamble to the C1 list which gives the following example of extended usage:  from columns, everyone trade, boys spread.  In this case it is expected that just the boys would move sideways away from the center of the column and the girls would remain in 
place.  Depending on the sex arrangement of the column, this could create a butterfly, an O, or blocks. 

Detailed examination of these 4 cases reveals that there are inherent contradictions that make it impossible to determine the correct result in some situations.  Consider, for example, Coordinate and Spread.  The call Coordinate ends in 2-face lines, which means that both the wave/line case and the leading/trailing couple case could apply.  The fourth case and first case seem to be in direct opposition, prescribing different results for exactly the same situation. 

While unwritten at this time, a convention has evolved at Challenge that provides a consistent rule-based framework for handling spreads while preserving most of the common usages as well as permitting new usages not addressed at all by the current written definitions.  This convention can be expressed as "Centers 
move SIDEWAYS away from the center, while the ends move into the center by moving either sideways or forward as appropriate.  When particular people are named to spread, they slide sideways away from the center of the set".  It could also be said that the ends backing up into the center would also be expected, but since it would usually be quite unpleasant for the ends, most callers refrain from asking dancers to do that.  CALLERLAB has yet to document this convention, but it is hoped that in the fullness of time the current disjointed collection of examples may be replaced by the above rule. 

The purpose of this workshop was to explore the use of this rule-based view of Spread and illustrate how it resolves some of the earlier inconsistencies as well as admitting new usages.  Some examples: 

- Coordinate and Spread:  as the call completes the centers spread apart and the ends do their circulate into the vacated center spots (line-type spread under the old definition).

- From 2-faced lines, Wheel and Deal and Spread:  after the wheel and deal the resulting Eight Chain Thru formation is not addressed by any of the currently defined cases.  The new convention stipulates that the new centers spread sideways and the ends step forward in between them.  Many calls end in Eight Chain Thru setups, so this usage enables things such as Load The Boat and Spread. 

- From the T-Bone formed by having the centers of a wave counter rotate:  Acey 
Deucey and Spread.  Effectively danced by having the centers trade and slide outwards while the ends crossover circulate.  Not addressed by previous rules. 

- From Lines Facing or Back to Back (i.e. coupled pairs as opposed to mini-wave 
pairs):  the exchange of the ends and centers positions is done using a Half Sashay motion.  Thus Right and Left Thru and Spread would be danced as Right and Left Thru followed by a Half Sashay. 

- From Diamonds:  the centers slide sideways away from the center of the diamond to become points, while the ends slide inwards to become the new centers. 

In addition, many calls which are addressed by the old rules, but are seldom used below Challenge were presented.  For example, Chain Reaction and Spread, Motivate and Spread, Turn and Deal and Spread, Swing Thru and Spread, Ferris Wheel and Spread.