"Halo" during spins & turns

T

Tony_salvi

I was always told to form a halo with my hand around the follower's head when turning or spinning her. But I am confused on the height. Should I keep the halo as close as possible to her head or a good 4 inches or so? Also, when I give the prep(on1 timing) on the 1,2,3 where should the hand be prior to turning? I usually have it level with her eyes, but not directly in front of them.

The reson I ask is because I'm not 100% sure where my hand needs to be after I give her the initial push for the turn or spin.
 
The way I teach it, the girls forearm and upper arm should form a 90 degree angle, the upper arm being paralel to the ground. The upper arm should also be around a 90 degree angle with her chest. That puts her hand a little above her head and makes sipnning a lot easier, from my point of view. Most if not all advanced spinners spin that way, from my experience...widening the angel between the upper arm and the chest is disastrous for spinning, as well as pushing the arm upward. The same goes for the leader, don't lead a spin high over her head!!!
The halo concept its also important, it helps keep her axis stable...as long as she doesn't pull back with her arm! For a multiple spin, the prep starts low, goes left then right then up to the aforementioned position, but the follower has to do a NY twist so her body will be facing a little to the right (from the leaders perspective) so you have to compensate a little to the right too, to keep the 90 degree angles.

a
 
lyndwode said:
but the follower has to do a NY twist so her body will be facing a little to the right (from the leaders perspective) so you have to compensate a little to the right too, to keep the 90 degree angles.

a
Click to expand...

nice explanation, only one thing, what is a NY twist?
 
NY Twist...Would be a good name for a drink, eh!? hahah. Not from NY, so dont quote me on this :)

Imagine the followers basic step. She does 1 backwards (small) and 2 where she had it in the first place (now the right foot is behind the left foot, no heels). Then without moving the feet, she twists a bit to the left and down a little pressing the right knee into the back of the left one. (Like skiing) there should be no gap between the knees. The weight is on the right foot...Would be much easier to show than to describe!!! Then she can spinn!!!!!!

a
 
Tony_salvi said:
I was always told to form a halo with my hand around the follower's head when turning or spinning her. But I am confused on the height. Should I keep the halo as close as possible to her head or a good 4 inches or so?
Click to expand...
I prefer the halo to be low. 4 inches would feel way too high -- I wouldn't be able to form the 90-degree angle with my arm that lyndwode mentioned, and it would be difficult to keep my balance with my hand so high up. Remember also that the follower tends to sink down when she preps so her head may be lower than normal.

Tony_salvi said:
Also, when I give the prep(on1 timing) on the 1,2,3 where should the hand be prior to turning? I usually have it level with her eyes, but not directly in front of them.
Click to expand...
When prepped, I normally have my wrist in front of my eye (right eye if the leader is holding my right arm, left eye if left arm), with my hand about level with the top of my head or just above.
 
Great detailed descriptions, keep it coming guys...

How big should the halo be? I have always received conflicting information on this. Or is this something will vary depending on the follower or amount of spins I am trying to do?
 
I can see how the halo thing can be tricky with those who don't have one, or maybe they do........ but it has slipped, fortunately I have a nice shiny halo that you can't miss :D








innocent.gif
 
I don't go for the "halo" myself. I go for a single spot above her head. Of course it ends up like a small halo, but it allows me to lead more from the wrist and less from the arm.

I teach students to go for the spot, but in the end you use whatever works for you. My intention is to stay as close to her center of balance as possible.

Best way to find out if you're doing it right is asking the girl. ;-)
 
i prefer the 90 degree thing.

generally, i tend to keep it such that it's about the circumference of her head (ok ok slightly larger :P).

i used to do the spot method in me younger days but most follows tell me they prefer the 90 thing cos, w the spot method, there's a tendency

- for the ladies arm to lose the 90 angle
- for the lead to feel wobbly cos, i've been told, even if u use the wrist method, the halo, no matter how tight, should be parallel to the ground i.e. flat. problem is most inexperienced leads tend to roll their wrist in this method and thus have this er...rolling halo...which leads to rolling salsera ....

but, as always, above only my own thoughts.

all in, what i do know is that the ladies do find it easier to follow is the guy makes every effort to keep her elbows and arms in front of her (ie helping her maintain her frame), no matter what the move.


jayzen
 
jayzen said:
i prefer the 90 degree thing.

generally, i tend to keep it such that it's about the circumference of her head (ok ok slightly larger :P).

i used to do the spot method in me younger days but most follows tell me they prefer the 90 thing cos, w the spot method, there's a tendency

- for the ladies arm to lose the 90 angle
- for the lead to feel wobbly cos, i've been told, even if u use the wrist method, the halo, no matter how tight, should be parallel to the ground i.e. flat. problem is most inexperienced leads tend to roll their wrist in this method and thus have this er...rolling halo...which leads to rolling salsera ....
Click to expand...
hahahah!my thoughts exactly:)
 
lyndwode said:
For a multiple spin, the prep starts low, goes left then right then up to the aforementioned position, but the follower has to do a NY twist so her body will be facing a little to the right (from the leaders perspective) so you have to compensate a little to the right too, to keep the 90 degree angles.

a
Click to expand...

How do you prep? Down to the waste or just to the side? Is one better than the other?
 
from what i remember when i attended the Santo Rico spins workshop was that, as u prep, important thing was to keep ur knees aligned with your waist/hips. U dun want to get those twisted cos it can cos hell of a pain at the end of the night.

i believe edie the salsa freak wrote an article on it. go check it out on her website.


jayz
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top