At this momment in time I haven't found (on youtube top performers ) where the lady does Not keep her head to her left. This is throughout the Slip Pivot also into whatever.So if the top lady dancers dont turn their head to the right. Why do we.

We ?.. any dancer who is trained by a seasoned pro. would NEVER advise that,:..
as Scriv. would say,, " when in doubt, keep it closed " .

What happens if there is no doubt? Suppose the man shapes to his left and 'leads' the lady to turn her head? in a similar vein, i've seen top ladies turn their head to the right during the heel turn of a foxtrot reverse turn

I would seriously doubt an experienced dancer ( lady ) would respond to being " led ".. there is no way, other than physically moving her head position , that one could achieve this..

AS to heel turns.. different dynamic and body shaping..

Hi terence
Take a look at this clip of Luca and Lorraine Barrichi. I minute and 5 seconds into it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y41lT_TMnVg&feature=related

I looked at a lot of other competition videos, and i agree, all the ladies i watched keep their heads to their left in fallaways. Luca shapes strongly in the clip above. But i have seen the "head to right" in live comps i've been to. Maybe it's only in foxtrot.

Actually, i've got myself worried now! Is that a quick open reverse?

Careful... Someone might take your quote out of context. By itself, it looks preposterous.

Still, even within the context of the lady's head position, I would expect an experienced partner to react to my positions appropriately. With respect to lead-and-follow, only some of what we do in ballroom is truly direct cause-and-effect. Everything else is response to cues based on logic and experience. True, I don't physically manipulate my partner's head, but through experience and training, she knows certain things I do with my body are indications that I want her to turn her head to the right (e.g. turning her to promenade position).

The same could be said of leading a heel turn, a rudolf ronde, a change of weight (or not) upon foot closure, etc... I never reach down and physically manipulate my partner's feet, arms, hands, etc... These are all things she learns to do as a natural reaction to certain cues. What makes us perceive this as "true" leading and following is the fact that the leads are logical and the responses natural. A very logical explanation can be given for each lead, e.g. why she should change weight as the feet close here, but not there. But it still remains that she is the one changing her own weight, as a logical response to some indication or another; she is not having her weight changed for her.

As for the Fallaway Reverse to Slip Pivot, I would never want a lady to open her head, and so I would never lead such a thing. Only the most experienced dancers can open their heads without at least a slight drifting of head weight towards the center of the position, and the slip pivot demands a complete pull of head weight to the left. And even with the best dancers, with the head weight stretched as far to the left as possible, opening the head during this movement as visually unappealing.

If you're looking for a good example of Fallaways with an open head, try searching for Drop Fallaway, Bounce Fallaway, or Three Fallaways. These can all be done with head open *or* closed (hopefully, as I mentioned, according to the man's lead). In any of these scenarios, my choice will be based on my partner's level of experience. If she can open her head while keeping the head weight reasonably well leftward, I prefer the look of the head open.

Regards,
Jonathan Atkinson
www.ballroomdancers.com

That is why is stated "experienced "..

Also,, there are techniques ( as Scriv. dictates ) where a lady should keep her head closed initially during Prom.for e.g.( in Waltz, sustained, and the delay in Tango )

And , I have to work on the assumption that the "lady " was never told.. OR, was never corrected.

And you say YOU would never lead such a thing. but.. we are not speaking of you ( or me ).. its called setting the record straight .

Ladies. On a Reverse Fallaway and Slip Pivot you would be well advised to keep your head to the left. It will be many many years down the track before one becomes skillfull enough to do it any other way. Try to remember that your head weighs about 16ibs. Put it in the wrong place and your balance is shot to pieces.

There are exceptions to the rule in FT ( O.side swivel to weave ending for e.g. ) BUT F/away rev. NEVER