1. Follower's right in Lead's left, clockwise turn

Demonstration
View the clip:

merengue_neutral_turn_overhead_rinl_clockwise.avi (6.4 Mb)

Notice that:

• the hand-hold is raised indicating a turn;
• the hand-hold does not move relative to the partnership i.e. Nathan turns while keeping his left hand still relative to Shirin;
• Shirin maintains the same “little hooks” hand shape;
• Nathan's hand pivots in the hold, with his first and second fingers acting as the contact point i.e. the “gun” fingers.

Preparation
Stand facing each other with a partnership offset, follower's right hand in lead's left at waist level (as in the “HALO™ turn for Followers” tutorial).

Description

1. Lead: raise the hand-hold vertically to a height just above your head, turning the palm of your hand to face you, with the fingers pointing upward as you do so. The tips of your first and second fingers should make contact with the base of your partner's fingers where they join the palm.
   Follower: form “little hooks” with your fingers. They should curl loosely over the tips of your partner's fingers.
    
2. Lead: pedalling on the spot, perform one complete clockwise turn. Keep your hand pivot point in the same place relative to your partner. You will find your palm rotating to face the ceiling at the beginning of the turn, maintaining this position during most of the turn, and returning to palm-to-palm contact at the end.
   Follower: you should only feel the pivoting contact of the lead's fingertips on the base of your fingers.
    
3. Lead: lower the hand-hold to waist level, returning to the start position.

2. Follower's right in Lead's left, anti-clockwise turn

Demonstration
View the clip (one cycle only):

merengue_neutral_turn_overhead_rinl_anticlockwise.avi (2.9 Mb)

The procedure is identical to the previous turn except the turn itself, which is danced anti-clockwise.
 

3 & 4. Follower's right in Lead's right

Demonstration
Clockwise:

merengue_neutral_turn_overhead_rinr_clockwise.avi (5.8 Mb)

Anti-clockwise:

merengue_neutral_turn_overhead_rinr_anticlockwise.avi (5.7 Mb)

Performed as in the above turns, except the lead uses his/her right hand instead of the left.

5. Double-handed hold, Follower's right in Lead's left, Follower's left in Lead's right, anti-clockwise/clockwise turn

Demonstration
View the clip:

merengue_neutral_turn_overhead_doublehanded_bothdirs.avi (7.1 Mb)

Notice that:

• both pairs of hands are kept close together when they are raised and during the turn;
• the holds of both hands obey the same principles (see Principles section below);
• Nathan keeps the hand-hold as low as possible so as not to overstretch Shirin;
• Nathan begins with an anti-clockwise turn, and follows it with a clockwise turn to unwind his wrist;
• At the end of the first turn, Nathan's hands are positioned right over left.

There are two components to the variation: one is follower's right in lead's left which we've already covered; the other is follower's left in lead's right which we haven't. The latter, practiced on its own, is an exact mirror image of the former beginning with an anti-clockwise turn followed by a clockwise one.
 

6. Cross-handed hold, right over left, clockwise turn

Demonstration
View the clip:

merengue_neutral_turn_overhead_crosshanded_roverl_clockwise.avi (6.4 Mb)

Cross-handed holds are symmetrical: follower's right in lead's right and follower's left in lead's left; it's only necessary to state which hands are above and below. In the right over left position, Nathan can only turn clockwise if he wants to maintain a hand-hold without letting go.
 

7. Cross-handed hold, left over right, anti-clockwise turn

Demonstration
View the clip:

merengue_neutral_turn_overhead_crosshanded_loverr_anticlockwise.avi (5.8 Mb)

In the left over right position, Nathan can only turn anti-clockwise to maintain a hold.
 

Principles

In this element, the lead turns without transmitting any lead signal to the follower, which is interpreted by the latter as a marking of time, or dancing on the spot.

The lack of signal is achieved by ensuring:

• the hand-hold remains neutral (unmoving) relative to the follower;
   
• that points of contact are present but minimised.