(Bachata) The must-have move right now — let's load up the head-roll turn ~ new-gen top class Alonso & Noelia break it all down

“The most important thing is the preparation — a good preparation. A head roll isn't something you force by thinking about it, it has to come out naturally, organically.”

CONTEXTFirst walkthrough of the head roll turn, stressing the lead's prep position and waiting for the lady's timing

“You have to make sure she's in a comfortable position. That's what lets you get the headroll out of her.”

CONTEXTExplaining why putting the follow in a comfortable position matters in the headroll turn

“There are three things I hate when I do a headroll. It's uncomfortable, it's unstable through the turn, and it's hard to tell when it's going to end.”

CONTEXTListing the three problems with a badly done headroll

“I don't react to the lead right away — I try to delay the head movement on purpose. Once the turn is completely done, then the head follows.”

CONTEXTExplaining the follow's principle of delaying the head roll timing

“The head has to finish in the opposite direction from where it started. It can't just go straight up.”

CONTEXTExplaining which direction the lady's head movement ends in on a head roll turn

“When you lead a head roll, you have to lead downward. If you lead up, you don't create the opposite-direction energy. So you go down first, then up.”

CONTEXTExplaining the hand direction and how the energy gets created when leading a head roll turn

“The hand doesn't go behind her neck. Lead her from there and it hurts.”

CONTEXTDemonstrating the wrong hand position when leading a headroll turn

“We're dancing bachata, after all. Understanding the leader's lead matters, and the guy has to respect the lady's timing through the basic.”

CONTEXTBefore connecting into the head roll turn, laying out three reasons why the basic step matters

“If the guy stops doing his basic and leads with just his arms, he loses the timing of her movement. But if he keeps the basic going for her, he can lead her timing for sure.”

CONTEXTComparing leading with the arms only versus keeping the basic going in the body

“Keeping the basic going is so important. Otherwise you lose the momentum of the flow.”

Stressing why the basic matters, wrapping up before moving on to the next turn

“This looks like a headroll, but it's actually not one. Build the frame and, in short, you're just lowering her shoulder.”

CONTEXTExplaining a variation that makes an ordinary turn look like a headroll