Notes & Learning Tips
Unless specified otherwise, you may assume that handholds for turns are performed at overhead level. Orbits are demonstrated at 180° increments, but you may use whichever increments you like.
 

Case Study 1: HALO™ turn for Followers, and hand change

Permutation 1.1 & 1.2
Shoulder-level halos are larger than other halo types, making it more challenging to supply a strong and consistent lead force. The most effective method of leading this type of halo is by combining it with an orbit of the opposite direction (see Case study 2).

Permutation 1.3 & 1.4
Notice that the follower's hand is placed palm-outward, either on the small of the back or the sacral region. This reduces muscle tension in the follower's shoulder. For a more detailed description of leading waist-level variants of HALO turns for Followers, refer to the Extras section of this tutorial.
 

Case Study 2: Orbit™ and HALO™ turn for Followers

Permutation 2.1
Notice how orbits in the counter direction dramatically reduce the follower's requirement to turn.

Permutation 2.3 & 2.4
For a more detailed description of leading waist-level variants of HALO turns for Followers, refer to the Extras section of this tutorial.
 

Case Study 3: Orbit™, and Neutral turn for Leads
In keeping with the basic principle of the neutral turn, the follower's hand does not move relative to the partnership once the turn is initiated.

Permutation 3.1
Lead: place your partner's right hand palm-downward on your right shoulder above your collarbone.
Follower: maintain contact with your partner and allow your hand to glide or “flow” across your partner's shoulders.

Permutation 3.2
Lead: place your partner's palm on the spare tyre around your waist (if you have one).
Follower: maintain contact with your partner, allowing your hand to “flow” around your partner's waist.

Lead: As you place your partner's right hand on your waist, raise your right forearm before performing the turn. This gets your right arm out of the way and prevents it from interfereing with the combination (Watch the video clip again).

Permutation N
You learned to investigate variables that were provided to you in the previous case study. In this exercise, you are the one who has to determine which variables could apply, and then investigate them.
 

Case Study 4: Orbit™, HALO™ turn for Followers, Neutral turn for Leads

Permutaion 2.6
Lead: as the breakthrough occurs, the hand of your wrapping arm should “flow” across the lower back of the follower. This does three things:

• it maintains contact with the follower, letting her/him know where your hand is without needing to see it;
• it functions as a barrier, preventing any other person from straying in between your partnership;
• it prevents you from drifting too far away from your partner.

Permutation 3.3
Be aware that:

• the waist-level handhold remains still relative to the partnership;
• the raised handhold is still relative to the Lead (Nathan), but moves relative to the Follower.

Follower: as the breakthrough occurs, the hand of your wrapping arm should “flow” across the lower back of the Lead for identical reasons given (in Permutation 2.6) above.
 

Common Faults

Permutation 3.2
Leads sometimes place their partner's right hand on the ribcage instead of the waist. They then find it awkward to lift their own right arms over their follower's right arm to get it out of the way during the turn. They try to compensate by getting up on their toes whilst turning, in a vain attempt to overcome the follower's arm bar. This only results in tired ankles and the fault we call “bobbing”.

Lead: just ensure that you place your partner's hand on your waist, and that your heels stay close to the floor as you turn.
 

Sequence 1
Lead and Follower: during the breakthroughs, continuing the flow of your right hand across your partner's back helps you locate your partner's left elbow. Your partner should not need to move her/his left arm to assist.

Failure to comply results in the “hand-searching” fault:

merengue_octopus_error_handsearching.avi (4.6 Mb)

And that's not cool.

Another common fault results from a combination with an elliptical orbit instead of a circular one. Partner distance varies, causing a “rubber band” effect:

merengue_octopus_error_rubberband.avi (3.4 Mb)

That's not cool either.