How to Spot?

[Dancebug]

Trying to help my partner... How does a man spot during fleckerels... at which counting and where and how, etc?

Thank you.

[biggestbox]

eye spot. You have to spot with the eyes not to get dizzy, but you can't spot with the head because you will unbalance the partnership.

[Dancebug]

eye spot. You have to spot with the eyes not to get dizzy, but you can't spot with the head because you will unbalance the partnership.
Is this for fleckerels? I am asking for advice sepcifically for fleckerels.

[biggestbox]

yes

[Angel HI]

The secret to Fleckerels is center. If you and your partner are properly centered, she will influence the speed of the turn; you will maintain the balance. We do something in this figure that is very common in ice dancing/figure skating...blind spotting. This is to neither spot with the eyes nor the head, but to be centered in position; allow the eyes to simply not focus. Of course, it is something that has to be learned through many hours of practice. Further, it requires a profound knowledge of the step [Fleckerel], and the position / step of the lady.

[waltzgirl]

Good to know that blind spotting is an actual thing. I don't wear my glasses when I dance (can't wear contacts :(), so I can't really see across the room to spot on a specific thing. So I generally let my eyes go out of focus and concentrate on staying balanced. Didn't know it had a name.

[Dancebug]

The secret to Fleckerels is center. If you and your partner are properly centered, she will influence the speed of the turn; you will maintain the balance. We do something in this figure that is very common in ice dancing/figure skating...blind spotting. This is to neither spot with the eyes nor the head, but to be centered in position; allow the eyes to simply not focus. Of course, it is something that has to be learned through many hours of practice. Further, it requires a profound knowledge of the step [Fleckerel], and the position / step of the lady.
Hmmm... It makes sense. I have been watching world top dancers doing fleckerel and noticed that even though their head was moving like crazy, they did not seem to look anything.

[kayak]

Dancebug, Wow, that is very observant that you were able to pick up on their trick just watching.

[Dancebug]

Dancebug, Wow, that is very observant that you were able to pick up on their trick just watching.
I normally slow down DVD's and watch many many times if there is anything I want to learn. Isn't that what everybody does?

[biggestbox]

this is crazy to me. I've never learned techniques to blind spot, can anyone share? Coming from ballet, I've only done turns on balance with my spot. I heard of crazy modern techniques to turn off balance, but never learned how to do them.

[madmaximus]

Trying to help my partner... How does a man spot during fleckerels... at which counting and where and how, etc?

Thank you.

Many ways to do this, here's one--it's a 1 over 3 (1 spot over 3 beats):

On step 1 point your nose in the direction of the foot (say LOD).
Do steps 2/3, rotating the body under the head until center-aligned.
Now here's the secret sauce:
when the sternum is aligned with the nose, the torso and head will rotate together until step 1 where you spot again(ie your head never crosses your center).






m

[Dancebug]

Many ways to do this, here's one--it's a 1 over 3 (1 spot over 3 beats):

On step 1 point your nose in the direction of the foot (say LOD).
Do steps 2/3, rotating the body under the head until center-aligned.
Now here's the secret sauce:
when the sternum is aligned with the nose, the torso and head will rotate together until step 1 where you spot again(ie your head never crosses your center).






m
Is this still blind spotting?

[madmaximus]

Is this still blind spotting?

Yes and no.
True spotting requires that your head point to the same place/s in the room/arena every time during the series of turns.

This kind of spotting holds the head at a certain aspect for a certain time, but does not necessarily begin in the same spot.

Lastly, others choose to focus on an object or spot on the wall (hence "spotting") during the rotation, and see it clearly.
Others choose NOT to focus their eyes, but simply hold the head at a certain position--which I understand to be termed "blind spotting".





m

[Angel HI]

this is crazy to me. I've never learned techniques to blind spot, can anyone share?

Sorry for the late response...have been on a major tango coaching...not to mention having suffered the demise of a computer. To answer the question, ask a local ice skater/dancer; it is their standard MO. To be shown is 1,000 times better than to be told.