(Bachata) Real-talk head circle tips — Valentino & Ryuji's head circle know-how ABC | Asia Bachata Connection

“Think of the lead like buttons on a game controller. A button, B button, C button — the next lead changes depending on which one you press.”

CONTEXTExplaining how the leading hand's position shifts during a head circle, using a video-game-button analogy

“You've got to keep switching buttons — that's how you win the game.”

CONTEXTEmphasizing that the leading hand position shouldn't stay fixed; it changes with the situation

“The A button — think of it as somewhere around where the follower's back turns into the shoulder, right on the deltoid.”

CONTEXTPinpointing the exact spot the leader's hand should land on (around the deltoid)

“When you lift a little, don't lead with just the hand — breathe and lengthen your own body. The elbow only comes up because your body is lengthening.”

Explaining that the lift going into a head circle comes from the leader's breath and extension, not from the hand

“When you send it to the right, don't go straight across at a right angle. The head just drops. Send it lightly back, that kind of feeling, and then catch it toward the front.”

Explaining the safe angle and the feel for changing direction in a head circle

“If you keep the connection clean with the left hand and with the right hand, the lead always reads clear and easy.”

CONTEXTExplaining that keeping both-hand connection clear makes the lead easy to read

“When you get a lead and you have no idea where it's going, you always send your energy from the top down.”

Explaining the energy direction a follower should take when receiving a lead whose direction isn't clear

“If you just keep traveling with that side feeling, you can't switch when the leader tries to lead you somewhere else. You have to keep stamping into the floor — then when you travel you won't misread it as another direction.”

Explaining that the follower has to stay grounded while traveling so they don't miss the leader's change of direction

“Your chest stays open and up, nice and pretty. And then you can stand up straight and hit it.”

CONTEXTThe follower's base posture (chest open) right before going into a head circle

“If you've got both arms wrapped inward, you just keep getting sucked in. You always have to keep your posture outside your arms — that's what lets you drop from up top when it hits.”

CONTEXTExplaining how arm placement affects the head circle drop position

“Keep your chest nice and open right up until the contraction, then on the way down you close a little and open it back up.”

CONTEXTExplaining chest open/contraction timing on the way down in a head circle

“Those of you tucking your chin in — that's a hard no. It's a really tough position for you, and it makes the lead heavy too.”

Pointing out a common mistake — tucking the chin in on the way into a head circle

“When the leader brings the breath up into the chest, we have to lift our chest too, then drop and roll.”

CONTEXTExplaining that in a head roll, the follower responds with the chest to the leader's breath cue

“The head roll breath has to go into the chest, but the second you think of it as head movement, you start wanting to throw your head around.”

CONTEXTWarning about the common mistake that comes from thinking a head circle is moved by the head itself