Spotting

[Guest arabesque07]

My question is about spotting.

I've noticed that I don't really do it. The thing is, a have a very difficult time spotting. That is, when I actually remember to do so. I also lose the object that I am spotting or something. Especially in pirouettes!!! Any help would be greatly appreciated!! If anyone knows maybe some tips or exercises to work on spotting, that would be great!! Thanks in advance!!

[vrsfanatic]

First question, do you wear or need glasses? This could be your problem. If you are unable to focus clearly on one thing then spotting is a challenge.

 

There are exercises to help you to understand the mechanic and rhythm of spotting. Start out standing not too far from the mirror and square to the mirror, head, shoulders, hips and feet facing front. Keeping your chin lifted, walk slowly with small steps (almost shuffling steps) making a circle around yourself (not traveling from side to side or forward and backward), leaving your eyes front. Leave your eyes front for as long as you can, then snap the head around and allow the body to return to the initial starting position. Repeat a number of times in one direction. Speed is not important.

 

 

You must practice this exercise to both the right side and the left side. Move further from the mirror so you get the understanding of distance with your eyes and body. Once this is understood looking into the mirror, practice it also without the mirror. Remember always to keep your head level.

 

You may also practice half and full turns on two feet, at the barre and in the centre of the room. The isolation of the head and eyes from the turning movement, directly relates to the spot in turning movements in the centre of the room.

 

Also practice walking or running in the centre, turning the head and eyes, to the front of the room as you move. Also turning in large circles at first (meaning the whole room), slowly making smaller circles.

 

Please note, the front of the room does not always mean to the front and centre. Students may be taught to spot where they are facing or to corners. Listen carefully to exactly where your teacher would like you to spot. All teachers are not alike!

 

The most important aspects of spotting are: Keep chin lifted, eyes level, head is the last to leave and the first to come around!

 

Let us know if this is helpful.

[Guest arabesque07]

First question, do you wear or need glasses? This could be your problem. If you are unable to focus clearly on one thing then spotting is a challenge.

No, I don't believe it's due to an vision problem.

 

Thanks for your help!! I printed your advice out and I'm going to start working on it ASAP!! Thank you so much!!

Edited May 28, 2004 by arabesque07

[Guest limeymauve]

I have a question related to this. I'm right handed, but definitely a left turner, which is a little weird. But I was thinking about it, and I think the reason might be that in my right eye I have this condition where one of the nerves isn't right, so when I look far left (towards my nose, or towards the spot when I'm turning right), I see double. Do you think this is why? And is there any way to correct it short of surgery? I notice it most in pirouettes, not so much turning across the floor.

[Victoria Leigh]

limey, is that eye correctible with a contact lens? If so, it would probably help. If not, you need to train your head to spot without the right eye tracking to the left. Keep it straight and keep your spot right in front of you.

[Guest limeymauve]

thanks, that's a really good idea! no, contacts won't help this, i already have contacts. It's not that it's blurry, it's that because of a weakness in one of the nerves that I was born with, the eye doesn't focus as easily with the other one and gives me double vision, especially when I look towards the left. I was trying what you said, just turning slowly, and it seems to help, though. Thanks! Sorry it's such a weird question.

[Victoria Leigh]

Nothing at all to apologize for, limey! A hard question, perhaps, since eyes are so individual and hard to understand unless one has a problem with them. But, if anything we can say will help, that's what we are here for! I hope it works, or at least improves things a bit for you.

[Guest thumpinhippo]

Hehe...this seems like the perfect opportunity to ask my special question! I don't know if you'd be able to answer (unless you've had a similar student) but to what extent does a complete lack of vision in one eye affect your dancing?

[Mel Johnson]

Blind in one eye gives you a problem. It won't be for spotting, but it will be depth perception. You won't be able to tell how close your partner is, for example, or just how far away that wing is. But it won't affect spotting!