Yet another ballet related question?

Question

o.k. ive been dancing for about 4 months now. and ive found out that im pretty good at some things and not so great at others. jumps im good at, but turns im not. sha-nays (idk the french spelling) are my worst enemy right now. i CANNOT spot for my life. i can do it, but im bad. i have to take the turns one at a time and i hold up the class. and i kno that you have to spot when turning because otherwise you get dizzy. so, if you have any tips on how to spot better and exercises i can do to help they would be VERY MUCH appreciated. i would like to prove myself even more to my classmates and not almost run into the mirror when i turn. (lol) Thanks!!

Answer 1

"sha-nays" is spelled chaines. It means chain in french. As for tips on spotting, I'm not good at it either but i'm getting better. Find something to spot thats at your height or maybe a little higher, but never lower than you. Be sure to whip your head around as fast as you can, my dance instructor always tells me to hit myself in the face with my ponytail which hurts but it works haha) Try practicing in the mirror. Start out going slow and watch yourself, turn as far as you can without moving you head and the when you can't go any farther whip your head around. When you get good at that go faster and faster. But trust me there is no cure for dizziness. I've been dancing for years and I get dizzy no matter what. Good luck =]

Answer 2

A good way to learn to spot is to turn slowly and practice whipping the head around quickly. The point of spotting is to keep your eyes on the same object throughout the turn. It's really about the quickness of you head. When I teach chaines I don't let my beginners turn quickly untill they can keep their spot.
After 4 months you shouldn't expect to have this perfect! You're learning. I think when I was young and first learning to turn it took my a few years to understand the coordination of the head and the turn. It's great that you want to get things down early but don't be hard on yourself. Dance is a process and the process is very different for every person and every body works in it's own way. Even professionals don't have everything perfect and they have off days where things just don't work for them.
Have fun and take class without worry or comparison to other classmates.

Answer 3

I WOULD LOVE TO HELP!! the trick that i learned to spot is to pick a piont in the room that you would like to turn to. Also you have to practice it, make sure that your head spins first then your body. Make sure when your head is turning to always be able for a quick second stop with your head and look at the piont that you chose. If you go on www.youtube.com you can see how dancers turn there heads when they do piroutts (can't spell in french either) and how they spin across the floor. Rember practice! I got it right away cuz my teacher helped me out. Ask your teacher to help you out after your lesson.

GOOD LUCK!!

Answer 4

try picking a certain object in the room. than try and keep you eyes on it until you have to turn you head and look right back at the same object. if you don't feel so confident in class. try practicing at home the more you practice the better you will get. don't feel so bad at being bad. everyone has a bad point.

Answer 5

if youve only been dancing for four months, then you are just begining. ive been dancing for six or so years and i still havent mastered everything. dont give up. youll get better.

Answer 6

well wut i do is look at something at eye level that u can stare at while u go across the floor. it works. and also if u r turning u can make sure that ur arms are very stiff, if not then ur turns will be all loppy. and also be sure to keep ur leg at your knee.