Further Practices

Loops, also called combs, are another method of simple hand change. Although they take a little bit more time to execute, loops are an essential element to have in your vocabulary.
 

1. Double-handed loop, parallel hold, anti-clockwise rotation

Demonstration
Have a look at the video clip:

Loop, parallel hold - merengue_loop_parallel_hold.avi (5.3 Mb)

Notice that:

• each hand-hold is raised to halo height;
• both Nathan and Shirin turn to the left (anti-clockwise), which automatically positions their left hands over the back of their heads respectively;
• contact is maintained between partners at all times;
• increasing the partner distance causes the hands to slide down their partner's arms;
• Nathan's right hand slides to the underside of Shirin's forearm when it passes her elbow;
• when the hand-hold is established, it is at waist height;
• the amount of space this element occupies can be large, so care should be taken when using it in crowded situations.
   

Preparation
Stand facing each other with a partnership offset, follower's right hand in lead's left, follower's left hand in lead's right, both at waist level.

Description

1. Lead: raise both hand-holds to halo height; your left hand to your halo level, your right hand to your partner's halo level;
    
2. Lead: as your hands approach shoulder height, begin turning your body to your left (anti-clockwise). By the time both hand-holds are at halo height, you should be standing right shoulder to right shoulder with your partner;
    
3. Lead: turning your body anti-clockwise should cause your left hand-hold to move towards your body and your right hand-hold to move away. This “push-pull” effect provides the lead force that signals your partner to rotate in a similar fashion;
   Follower [in terms of the equilibrium lead]: as your partner turns while your hands are being raised, you should feel increased pressure on your left palm and on the fingertip pads of your right. This should be interpreted as a signal to rotate your body anti-clockwise;
    
   
4. Lead and Follower: continue turning until your right upper arms make contact with each other. You should find your left hand-hold over (and slightly behind) your own head, and your right hand-hold over (and slightly behind) your partner's;
    
5. Lead and Follower: lower the hand-holds so that your left is resting lightly on the nape of your neck, and your right is resting lightly on your partner's. Specifically, your right palm should make contact with your partner's neck;
    
6. Lead: release both hand-holds and begin moving away from your partner, increasing partner distance;
    
7. Lead: once past your partner's elbow, move your right hand palm uppermost to the underside of your partner's right forearm (watch the video again). This position helps you establish the hand-hold more easily;
    
8. Lead and Follower: continue sliding and increasing partner distance until a Follower's right in Lead's right hand-hold is achieved at waist level.
    

Details and Learning Tips
You can reduce the overall space required to perform this element, by declining your right arm at a steeper angle (to the floor) as your partner's hand slides down it.

Take extra care at the start, because your left elbow will occupy a space at head height, posing a potential hazard to fellow dancers.
 

2. Double-handed loop, hands crossed left over right

Demonstration
View the clip:

Loop, double-handed, crossed left over right - merengue_loop_loverr.avi (5.5 Mb)

Notice that:

• the crossed hand-hold allows a smaller degree of freedom than the previous loop;
• Nathan's left arm loops over Shirin's head whilst his right loops over his;
• Shirin experiences the converse: her right arm over Nathan, her left over herself;
• Nathan turns to his right (clockwise) and Shirin to her left (anti-clockwise) until they are both side-by-side;
• this variation is reflected, unlike in the previous example which has a point of symmetry;
• Nathan, being the taller partner, accommodates the height difference by flexing his knees to keep things comfortable for Shirin.
   

Preparation
Stand facing each other with a partnership offset, follower's left hand in lead's left, over follower's right hand in lead's right, both at waist level.
 

Description

1. Lead: first raise your left hand above your partner's head height, then raise your right hand above your head height;
    
2. Lead: as your hands approach shoulder height, begin turning your body to your right (clockwise);
    
3. Lead: turning your body clockwise should cause your right hand-hold to move towards your body and your right hand-hold to move away. This “push-pull” effect provides the lead force that signals your partner to rotate anti-clockwise;
   Follower [in terms of the equilibrium lead]: as your partner turns while your hands are being raised, you should experience a pulling force through your right arm and a pushing force through your left palm. This should be interpreted as a signal to turn to your left (anti-clockwise);
    
4. Lead: by the time both hand-holds are above head height, you should be standing with your left shoulder next to your partner's right shoulder;
   Follower: the turning lead force should stop once your right shoulder ends up next to your partner's left shoulder;
    
5. Lead: lower the hand-holds so that your left arm makes light contact with your partner's shoulders, and your partner's right arm makes light contact on yours;
    
6. Lead and Follower: adjust your height to accommodate your partner by flexing at the knees if necessary;
    
7. Lead and Follower: the part of your arm making contact with the nape your partner's neck varies as a function of: body height, arm length and partner distance. Anywhere between forearm and fingers is acceptable;
    
8. Lead: release both hand-holds and begin moving away from your partner, increasing partner distance;
    
   
9. Lead: once past your partner's elbow, move your left hand palm uppermost to the underside of your partner's right forearm (watch the video again). This position helps you establish the hand-hold more easily;
   Follower: slide your right hand down your partner's left arm as the partnership distance increases, maintaining contact all the time;
    
10. Lead and Follower: continue sliding and increasing partner distance until a Follower's right in Lead's left hand-hold is achieved at waist level.
     

Variations

Two obvious permutations for you to work out are:

1. Double-handed loop, parallel hold, clockwise rotation;
2. Double-handed loop, hands crossed right over left.
    

Notes

Loops
This element is sometimes called a:

• “Loop” because of the way your arms loop over both your heads;
• “Comb” because the act of placing your partner's hand on the nape of your neck is similar to that of combing the hair on the back of your head.
   

The last word
At the end of both demonstrations, Nathan and Shirin turn to face each other. Strictly speaking, although there should be a tendency for partners to align their centrelines with each other, the manoeuvre is not led.

Particularly at the end of the latter example, had Shirin not turned to face him, Nathan could have travelled in an anti-clockwise arc around her until their centrelines were aligned. The movement of one partner around the other as just described, forms the topic of our next tutorial.