I have a couple of questions on the quick open reverse in slow waltz.
We dance this starting with the man facing DC.
I believe there are different possible timings: 1&2,3 and 1,2&3.
We dance 1&2,3 because we want to hover slightly on the 2. This clearly wouldn't be so effective with the 1,2&3 timing.
Anyone any comments on this?
A second point about the same figure:-on the 2 (which is my right foot as the man)I'm preparing for the cbmp on 3 and also swaying to my left. Is it essential for the lady to turn her head (to her right) to 'follow' the sway? Any comments would be most welcome.

"A second point about the same figure:-on the 2 (which is my right foot as the man)I'm preparing for the cbmp on 3 and also swaying to my left. Is it essential for the lady to turn her head (to her right) to 'follow' the sway? Any comments would be most welcome."

It is essentialy that her head orientation be consistent with the sway being used, but it's possible to do the figure with a sort of sway way that does or does not prompt a head turn.

You have a lot of choices in dancing, but each choice you make constrains you to do other things in a manner that is consistent with that choice.

The head weighs about 16lbs. If it gets in the wrong position it will affect the man's balance as well as the ladies, plus tension in the shoulders. There is no rule saying that the lady must turn her head to the right on a sway to the ladies right. If there was the head would turn on a Reverse Turn and what about the Whisk which has a sway to the ladies right on 2 and 3 and where the head is often turned too early.
Like Latin, I am told. It is not possible to teach arm movements. They have to come from within. The head also , any dance must be felt not instructed and is a highly skilled manoeuvre. What I am saying is in the hands of the inexperienced it can look bad, and that the dancing could look better without it.

Mi Amigo-- hand and arm movements can be taught quite effectively-- by the RIGHT person .

It does take a skilled proponent, and they are many times ladies, who give classes on that feature . Could name names, but may leave out friends etc.

"Mi Amigo-- hand and arm movements can be taught quite effectively-- by the RIGHT person ."

A sequence of motions can be taught and drilled (and this may well be a necessary stage), but it won't actually consitute dancing until those actions are occuring not by "running the arm program" but instead as a natural response to something happening in the body core.

Similarly, a lady can practice turning her head or not turning her head. But she won't be "dancing" until her head responds naturally to the body movement - which is to say, her leader should be able to get either results without telling her in advance which one it is going to be, but instead by guiding the two bodies on a path which does, or does not, cause a head turn.

Well, thanks for the comments.
On the "it's not dancing until the lady responds naturally" point - i agree, but it takes some skill to respond naturally like this, and it must be practised, even if that rpactice starts off in a semi-mechanical fashion. Learning to play a muscial instrument is similar in this regard.

If ladies are going to use a movement of the head to enhance a particular move it might be worth pointing out that the ladies eyes with her head to the left are on a slant and not horizontal. which means does the head when looking to the right go to a horizontal plane and not looking upwards. If so there will be a roll up and over with the head still in the same position over the spine. We have a style of dancing here which is competition. Because some of the shaping being allowed got to the point where it was excessesive and in many cases downright ugly. In the lower grades the rules were changed making some of the previously taught moves illegal. The inexperienced just aren't capeable of handling it. This style of dancing has close hold, extendes holds solo turns I would imagine a bit like American Smooth.