Ladies. Don't roll you head up and over when going into a Promenade, Whisk for instance. Why not. Because you will shorten your neck and also destroy your balance. Look for somebody who does just that, awfull isn't it. Here we go, get the tapes out again.

Hi Don
What should the lady do?

Phil. Just simply turn the head from left to right and back again, just as if you were looking at somebody along side.

I asked about this because we're actually working on this (and a few other things) in some detail right now.
Here's my view on it. In the normal dance position, the axis of the lady's neck in not vertical, but is tilted slightly back and to her left. Maybe the technique books don't exactly specify this, but all the really good dancers dance like this in normal closed position. If the lady turns her head into promenade position, i think this axis should remain unchanged. This will result in an 'up and over' type of movement. If my partner does the head movement as if she were shopping in the high street, i.e. with her neck axis vertical, she is too close to me.
That's how i see it

If the neck axis is not to be vertical, it would have to be because the upper spine is not vertical. That's okay - just make sure that the lower spine is aligned - the shape comes from quite high up the back.

Phil, This is for the lady .Just keep the chin up and keep that curve to the left using the sides and not collapsing. Keep well into the man's right arm. Look to where the wall meet the ceiling. If you are at Blackpool make that to the first ballcony. And never shorten your neckline. If you are streching to the side as lady as in a Lunge for instance be careful, don't do the shaping through the neck only. As previously stated, no up and over with the head in Promenades.

It is the man that turns the lady's head. His body shape(sway) causes the lady's head weight to move from side to side in turns ,lines etc, but the lady's neck has to be flexable enough to have this happen and both man and lady have to be aware of where their own and partners body and head weight is throughout the dance. So first the head weight moves followed by the turn of the head, but untill the man has learnt to sway the lady has to move her own head. Unfortunatly many women continue to turn their own heads at an advace leval and that is why it looks so unnatural or forced. The lady should be able to feel this when dancing with her teacher.