Beginner's Guide to "Spotting" for Better Pirouettes

Spotting prevents a dancer from becoming dizzy during pirouettes and gives turns an aesthetic sharpness.
Most dancers learn to spot when they first learn to perform pirouettes, but there are a few specific points that can improve the spotting technique of even the most advanced dancer.
In this video, I will be sharing some tried-and-true expert tips and an effective exercise to help you improve your spotting and, consequently, your pirouettes.
Hope this helps! I would love to know your thoughts about it.
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[@MicheleEngel]

This is absolutely the best lesson on spotting that I have ever seen. It has always been a mystery to me. No one ever explained that you need to practice just the spotting technique BEFORE you start practicing the actual turns. Eureka! Thank you!❤

[@vivianyh]

I usually get more dizzy when I spot then when I dont

[@sirenovercyprus24]

Same I’ve NEVER been able to spot 😢

[@quit33.]

Same!! ​@@sirenovercyprus24

[@yuetmengkhoo1766]

I followed your method and it works perfectly well and to avoid dizziness, I just turn opposite direction and I am OK.😅😊

[@santhiyag1650]

excellent video on spotting Thank you

[@XRay_theJagg]

This is so wonderful! I actually remember practicing an exercise like this with my Ballet teacher but it was so long ago I had forgotten about it.
I'm definitely going to start practicing this again and I'll do it with my own students too. Thank you!

[@levimazie2223]

So well explained ! Thanks

[@jaajames]

figure skater dont spot because we're spinning so much faster than an ballerina can spin, and if we try to spot it will cause us to lose balance and fall out of the spin.

[@shopping6175]

Great explanation! I finally understood the breakdown of the technique. Thank you!

[@juliagg6187]

Thank you sooo much!

[@cbudzyn]

Is it typical to struggle with spotting if someone has years of figure skating background?

[@seashelllune1076]

how do you feel about using the spot in attitude turns? I just don’t think it’s necessary or even possible.. but there’s a point of focus like in all turns. Balanchine didn’t use spot in attitude or arabesque turns.

[@hanstappendorff6930]

you can clearly see from the video that this movement is performed too late (a mistake passed down through generations). At the maximum lateral position of the head, the muscles tense up/the tendon protrudes. This makes the "spot" slower. In the last few centimetres, the head is unfortunately tilted and "swings" around. The "spot" thus becomes a "reaction", but - performed earlier and actively - should be an "action" that gives the pirouette additional rotational energy. Please no contraforce....and please watch perfect pirouettes in slow motion!