It's one of those words that you hear OVER and OVER in dance-spot. Spotting not only helps you to not get dizzy when you are turning but the "whipping" action of the head aides in helping your body achieve the full rotation. Let this next sentence marinate for a second-a pirouette is just a balance with a spot.
Just to catch you up, spotting is the simple action of focusing your eyes on a spot and, as your body rotates around in your turn, you whip your head around right back to the same spot. Taking your eyes of your spot too soon can leave you with no where to focus and will throw off your turns. Keeping your eyes on your spot too long before whipping the head around will cause your spin to twist and will throw off your turns also.
So where do we begin? To quote the Sound Of Music, "Let's start at the very beginning, a very good place to start"...(it's my favorite musical so I had to throw that in.)
As we see time and time again in technique, the simplest exercises have the most purpose. The very basics of technique always need to be re-visted and perfected. This is the case for our current topic as well. ISOLATIONS. You know that thing you do in jazz warm up when you simply snap your head right and left, yep, that's it! That is the foundation to creating good "spotting" habits. Being able to look side to side doesn't seem challenging, I get it. But being able to isolate your neck while keeping the shoulders, ribcage, and pelvis still and whip your head right to left and find a focus point each direction is the goal here. I will get to why a proper "old school" jazz warm up is still the best thing in the world in another blog (yes, follow me please :)) but for now just make sure you are working on isolations if you want to improve spotting. Common mistakes-relaxed shoulders that lift up the more the head rotates, the head dropping slightly forward or back instead of going directly side to side, the head turns but the eyes never focus...just things to look out for.
Another very basic but excellent exercise to do is to stand facing the mirror and focus your eyes on a spot. Start taking baby steps around leaving your eyes on your spot as long as you can then whip your head around to relocate your spot and continue your feet back around to the front. This type of exercise is what I call a "dance drill". It is something that is good to do everyday, over and over, and can help create good dancing habits. You will notice right away if you are taking your head back and around or if your shoulders are raising or any other issues you are having. Being able to identify problems in this drill will only help you once you start applying the technique and actually turning. OF COURSE I HAVE A VIDEO :)!!
The head is so important in your turns. I have included a video of some of my favorite exercises for using your spot. I always believe in the basics and training to improve the small things will be the building blocks to doing the bigger things. Check out my videos and practice, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!
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Take Care of You, dancers!
Liz