So I tried to see if there was a previous topic about spotting on here and there was only one and it didn't really help me much. The post had suggestions for when traveling while spinning but I'm interested in just spinning in one place a bunch of times. I am familiar with the technique of spotting (find a spot on the wall and look until you can't anymore and then quickly look back at it again) and can see when it's happening in a performance. However, I can do this maybe once without feeling dizzy but not consecutively. I don't know if it's because I might not be focused enough or if it's something that takes practice but there is definently something going wrong.
Any advice?
Any advice?
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Re: Troubles with Spotting
Tue, May 13, 2008 - 12:21 PMIt takes practice, I'm told. I haven't been able to do it either.
Another spotting in place trick is to focus on yourself – your own hand, the hair in your face, etc., while turning instead of trying to whip your head around.
When you stop spinning, you can step out and still keep that hand in front of you to make sure you aren't dizzy before moving on with the choreography. I haven't tried this myself, but I'm told this works for a lot of people. -
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Re: Troubles with Spotting
Fri, May 16, 2008 - 5:41 AMLook at your thumb in the direction of which you are spinning. Sufi students do this too when they learn dervish whirling. The thumb is a still spot in the whirl, it does not change places.
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Re: Troubles with Spotting
Thu, May 22, 2008 - 11:50 AMthis one works well for me, I think it's how dervishes manage to whirl... It's also a better method if you have had labyrinthitis as sudden moves are harder to do.
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Re: Troubles with Spotting
Thu, May 22, 2008 - 7:15 AMhi Zana,
I've always found spotting easier than looking at my hand, tho UN-focused eyes while spinning is also comfortable for me - but I think that came later.
Maybe if you slowed down a little & set a goal for like 4 in a row, something to work toward. Make sure your knees are bent & your ribs are lifted too so you can balance better.
The problem I've seen with students learning this is they tend to not turn their head quickly enough to find the spot again - it's gotta be a super fast head turn. -
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Re: Troubles with Spotting
Thu, May 22, 2008 - 7:16 AMp.s. also learned (thanks to my teacher) that I had to wear contacts when learning this, couldn't just take my glasses off.
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Re: Troubles with Spotting
Thu, May 22, 2008 - 7:22 AMI think I finally figured out a way to do it without stumbling hehe Instead of focusing on one spot to spin around, I focus on two but in different directions. So for example, at one end of the 180 degrees I focus on one thing and then at the other 180 degrees the next thing. That way I'm really only spotting twice in a way but it's soooo much easier! Thanks for all your tips and I'll definently keep all that in mind. Maybe one day I'll advance to only have to do it once!
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Re: Troubles with Spotting
Thu, May 22, 2008 - 4:16 PMi haven't been able to do it, but i do get dizzyness due to my ears being screwy. (and this is a really obscure thing, and probably not the problem, but look into it if you have allergies and nothing else helps) anyway, if you have allergies or other sinus problems it can put pressure on your ear tube (i can't think of what it's called for the life of me) and cause dizzyness.
just a thought, but really a last resort. ^_^ good luck! -
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Whirling Vs. Spotting
Thu, May 22, 2008 - 9:09 PMHmmm...
I actually distinguish between Whirling and Spotting.
Whirling is longtime spinning where I let my focus so soft, and this usually stops the dizziness because I'm not trying to focus my eyes on anything. I could focus on my hand while I was whirling, and often do, but then I use my focussed upon hand to make interesting patterns as I spin.
With spotting, the point is to get my head around fast enough to catch the spot before my head gets wonky. One trick I learned from Christina from Blue Lotus Tribe is to not spot directly ahead of myself. Instead, spot about a foot before (at about One O'clock) because with drift from the momentum of your spin, you'll end up at noon.
And yes, it definitely takes regular practice to get spinning, spotting and whirling (geez... Sounds like bellydancer laundry... Do we dance like Tide? ;-))))
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