Notes

1. Hand changes during a HALO™ turn for followers

Demonstration
The third variant - a hand change before tracing the halo (as described in Part II. The “when” of hand changes, Preparation & Description iii.) is not demonstrated.

Recall from previous tutorials that: a raised hand-hold indicates an overhead turn may follow; lowering the hand-hold indicates either a waist-level turn to follow, or the end of the combination. In general:

• the first (early) hand change should be used if an overhead turn is to follow,
• the second (late) hand change should be used if a waist-level turn is to follow.
   

Principles
Method: the system ensures that some form of hold is maintained with the follower at all times (there is no instance when contact is lost between partners). Consequently, the follower is never in doubt as to which hand is being used by the lead.

When: the amount of lead force experienced by the follower is reduced during a hand change. It's essential to appreciate when a lead has to be strongest during a turn, deduce when less lead force is required, and thus the windows of opportunity for performing a hand change.
 

Part I. Method of the transfer

Description
(2) Lead: there is no room to introduce your right hand in front of your left, because of the contact between the “little hooks” of the follower's fingers and the “gun” fingers of your left hand, hence it is placed behind. As a general rule: the fingers of the hand you're transferring to, are placed behind the fingers of the hand you're from.
 

Part II. The “when” of hand changes

The follower's safety is the most important consideration in the timing of hand changes. Remember that the shoulder joint has less freedom articulating backwards than forwards - any lowering of the hand-hold during a hand change while the Follower's back is turned toward the Lead, is likely to throw the former off balance. The two windows of opportunity for a hand change based on anatomical restrictions are:

1. before the halo is one-quarter complete; and
2. after the halo is three-quarters complete.
    

Preparation & Description
Lead: for a smooth hand change, try the following:

1. when the halo is nearly half-way complete, begin raising your right hand. As the hand-hold approaches the three-quarter halo position, your right hand “gun” should be just under and behind your left. Brush the knuckles of your left hand with the fingertips of your right by lowering your left hand as you raise the right, completing the hand change;
    
2. hold the gun fingers of your right hand out at waist-level. As the hand-hold approaches waist-level, brush the fingertips of your right with the knuckles of your left, transferring the hold. You can increase the speed of transfer by brushing your fingers (right) upwards as your (left) knuckles brush downwards;
    
3. begin raising your left hand first, then raise your right travelling faster. Brush the knuckles of your left hand with the fingertips of your right, as your right hand overtakes the left. This completes the transfer of your partner's hand.
    

Goals
There are not many instances when the Follower's left hand is used instead of the right. However for the sake of completeness, you may want to try those changes at least once (Double-handed changes do exist, but that's a different story…).
 

Learning Tips
Eclipse
(A teaching point for a safe hand-change late in a halo turn)
Lead: Imagine that your partner's head is the Earth, and the handhold is the Moon. Ensure that the hand change occurs well after the Moon has emerged from eclipse from behind the Earth.

Brushing
Lead: The fingertips (pads) of the hand you're transferring to, should brush the knuckles of the hand you're transferring from.
 

2. Hand changes during a Neutral Turn for Leads

Demonstration & Principles
Observe what happens when Nathan's right arm is raised for the hand change. His right elbow sharpens and occupies a space some distance from his body. Had he been facing Shirin at the time, there would be an increased likelihood of Shirin being elbowed. To avoid this, Nathan waits until his body has turned clear of Shirin before commencing the hand change.

For safety, hand changes should be made:

• while the Follower is in the Lead's line-of-sight;
• bearing in mind the position of the Lead's elbows;
• at instances which would avoid the Lead's elbow travelling across the Follower's face. Here are some recommendations:
   
  • left to right, anti-clockwise - hand change at first quarter;
  • right to left, anti-clockwise - hand change when nearly complete;
  • left to right, clockwise - hand change when nearly complete;
  • right to left, clockwise - hand change at first quarter.
     

Preparation & Description
(1) please refer to the recommendations above for appropriate times for hand changes.

(5) when practising the converse, perform the hand change when the turn is nearly complete.

Goals
Remember to correlate each permutation with its recommended instance of hand change.

Common Faults
Hand throwing
Describes when the Lead lets go with the giving hand before the receiving hand has made contact with the Follower's hand. In effect, the Follower's hand is thrown from one hand to the other. There is a chance that:

1. the receiving hand will fail to establish the hand-hold, and
2. the Follower, uncertain of the Lead's intentions, will withdraw her/his hand at that moment in time.

This fault usually occurs when the Lead is under time pressure to complete a turn element in a combination that is not yet within the partnership's capabilities.