Expert: Dianne M. Buxton - 1/3/2011

Question
I have been dancing for 5 years, and have been trying to learn to spot, but I can't do it! I've noticed that I tend to go past the item I'm spotting when I whip my head around, so I miss the spot. I need to learn to do this, becaus eit is seriously negatively affecting my turns. Please help!

Answer
Hi Maddi.It sounds like you (as you are aware of) overshoot the spot - maybe you are just trying too hard?

I recommend that you concentrate on where you focus your eyes, instead of the head movement. If you can over-spot, you have no problem with neck tension, and that is good.

Practice some turns, every class, without spotting at all. Then add in the spotting, but not with a head movement, but with where you focus your eyes.

Your head only does what it does, in order for you to focus your eyes on a spot. It's the focus of your vision that prevents dizziness, not the head movement.

Try turning as slowly as you can, doing a slow head movement, so that you can stop when your eyes have found the spot. You can even just do a promenade in retire position, to exaggerate the timing of this movement for yourself.

Change the emphasis to the eyes, from the head. You have to re-train a bit, and I'm sure you'll be fine with it.

Regards, Dianne.