Amanda

“If you're too worried about the head, your foot won't come up. Send your weight all the way onto one foot first, and then think about the head going in.”

Explaining the order of weight transfer and head timing on an underarm turn.

“If he hasn't led it, you can't just suddenly drop down. You take the lead as it comes and go down with it.”

Explaining that the timing of bending your knees can't fall out of sync with the lead

“Your head and your ribs — those two are seriously heavy. They can't drift off your hips; you have to keep the ribs and hips stacked on the same line.”

Explaining what actually breaks your balance, in terms of body alignment

“You don't lead with your head — your body has to go where the lead is taking it first. Then when the signal to spiral comes, that's when the head goes in.”

Correcting students who mix up the order of body and head on an underarm turn

“Think of your partner's arm and your body as one unit. When your partner's arm opens, your body opens too.”

Explaining the principle of syncing your frame with your partner's arm movement in the clockton double pattern

“Even if you feel like leading with your head, when you whip it, don't shift your weight over toward the guy — stay centered over both feet and come up a little more toward the back. Then he doesn't have to carry you.”

From the follower's side, the safe way to hit the head musically on the way up out of a dip

“Hold the shape and your balance will never break. Ever.”

Stressing how much posture matters through a turn

“Don't let your butt stick out behind you. Your belly button should be visible — think of it pointing toward me, and that's when the contraction shape actually shows up.”

Giving concrete posture cues for lining up the body