In the dance world, spotting refers to turning one's head in a turn to minimize the dizzying effect on the dancer. This is done by focusing one's eyes on a fixed spot in the room and maintaining that eye contact throughout nearly the entire turn. Spotting, in ballet, is used for all turns and is especially useful for consecutive turns. Not only does it make the dancer less dizzy, but it helps with balance and positioning to ensure clean turns. Most dance studios are lined with mirrors so it is easy to spot one's own head, but on stage the environment is very different. It is hard to find a good place to use as a spot with the harsh stage lights that make it impossible to see anything from the stage. In this situation, I find it helpful to spot somewhere above the audience like towards the sound and light booth. Sometimes there are stray lights or lighting fixtures that stick out of the booth that stand out enough to make useful spots. It is important to remember that your spot is not too high or not to low, but at approximately eye level, because the tilt of a dancer's head has a huge impact on their balance in the turn. Even the weight and placement of a ballerinas bun can affect their balance in turns, so dancers with heavy hair should keep that in mind. I hope this post on spotting tips has been helpful and informative!
