Hi, I am learning a routine that begins with an overturned spinturn and then a forward lock (for the woman). The routine finishes with a running finish, nautal turn and then starts over again with the overturned spin turn. My question relates to the position of the head in the overturned spin turn and fwd lock. At the very start I have my head to the left. From the open impetus into the running finish the head turns from left to right and then back to left - by which time there is momentum keeping the head very left. What happens with the head going from the natural into the overturned spin turn? Is it simply "left"? What should be the position during the forward locks? I have just grasped the change of head position in the open impetus and it feels great and makes everything flow nicely. Help is appreciated.

What open impetus? Your description of the routine did not include one, but then suddenly it sneaks into your question. There are no promenade figures in syllabus quickstep. The precise orientation of your head may want to a change a little bit in these various figures, but it should be left of center for all of them.

The open impetus precedes the running finish. Sorry if this was not clear.

abcdefg. I have a promenade into a Running Finish after an Open Imputus in the Quickstep. Been doing it for years. Maybe that syllabus should try to catch up. As far as the head movement are concerned, Sandra can't go far wrong if the head is to the right in promenades and to the left when not.

On the contrary, maybe dancers should stick to syllabus until they understand useage of the head

Hi Onlooker, Many thanks. Your encouragement helped me to confidently use my head and meanwhile other things have flowed. With the head in the right place for the routine I was able to think about the body staying low (with some stretch)in the overturned Spin turn before powering into the forward lock. My teacher was pleased and my routine is feeling better. Sometimes we take things for granted - thanks for your help.

Sandra. Just a reminder. When turning you head into promenade. don't roll it up and over. Simply turn it from left to right. The other way does shorten your neck and can cause a shift in balance. Make a point of remembering that the head weighs about 16lbs. If your partner was standing balanced with his hand out and you suddenly dropped a bowling ball in it I'm sure it would not be appreciated.

Don . I have a promlem with that advice. My wife has the habit of turn ing her head that way and it pulls her shoulder back and away from me so that we are to open in the promenade position,it's a question of how flexable the neck is. The other promblem is that we tend to go in the direction we are looking so we dance off on different tracks. I have notice that some Lady Pros don't take the posative or proud look that the man takes and are not looking where they are going but following the man on a parallel track. Dave

in promeande you are going neither where you are looking nor where your feet are pointing (unless you are looking or pointing to open).

You should be moving in a direction substantially inside both. Think almost of trying to cross your partners path and it will come out about right.

Thanks suomynona. You are keeping me busy with all these tips.Dave