Advice on spinning anyone got any tips? [Archive]

Gav

22nd-March-2007, 12:07 PM

I don't mean the evil stationary bike classes, but the art of twirling like a good 'un.

I kind of know the theory - about focusing on a spot and snapping your head round, of making your feet do the work and not relying on your arms for momentum, but I still don't feel that confident about trying to revolve more than once (without staggering around afterwards like someone on the heaving deck of a ship).

Is there a good technique for achieving beautiful, natural spinning? :wink:

Erm, I would say that it's actually your shoulders and arms that give you the initial momentum, NOT your legs/hips.

After a workshop with Simon & Nicole (spins, style and interpretation, I think?) I was spinning quite well independently (using shoulders for momentum), but still couldn't do it as part of a move with a partner.

Only recently did I manage to start pulling off opposing spins for lady spins etc (still need a lot of work) and only in the last week or so have I managed to turn my man-spin and a bit, into a full man-spin (1.5 turns). That last improvement came with spotting.

Do a workshop and be prepared to practice for a long time!

Freya

22nd-March-2007, 12:15 PM

(Men) Multiple spinning and spotting (http://www.cerocscotland.com/forum/lets-talk-about-dance/10528-men-multiple-spinning-spotting.html)
Spinning and spotting (http://www.cerocscotland.com/forum/lets-talk-about-dance/9499-spinning-spotting.html)
Men Spinning (http://www.cerocscotland.com/forum/intermediate-corner/6382-men-spinning.html)
Spinning (http://www.cerocscotland.com/forum/lets-talk-about-dance/8006-spinning.html)
Double Spins (http://www.cerocscotland.com/forum/intermediate-corner/6243-double-spins.html)
Intermediate/advanced Spinning (http://www.cerocscotland.com/forum/intermediate-corner/1286-intermediate-advanced-spinning.html)
Spinning (http://www.cerocscotland.com/forum/lets-talk-about-dance/4611-spinning.html)
Spinning Around (http://www.cerocscotland.com/forum/intermediate-corner/58-spinning-around.html)
Double (treble/multiple)spins (http://www.cerocscotland.com/forum/intermediate-corner/15-double-treble-multiple-spins.html)

Erm is that enough links?????

rubyred

22nd-March-2007, 12:21 PM

Is there a good technique for achieving beautiful, natural spinning? :wink:
It sounds like you have the theory now it's practise, practise and more practise. A good dancing teacher once recommended that I practise spinning in the bathroom, its a smaller more confined space and you have to train yourself not to fall into the bath, bounce off the loo or go tap dancing instead!!!. Therefore when your on the dance floor you become more aware of positioning and your central point so you can stay balanced. Hope it helps :flower:

Terpsichorea

22nd-March-2007, 12:21 PM

Erm, I would say that it's actually your shoulders and arms that give you the initial momentum, NOT your legs/hips.

After a workshop with Simon & Nicole (spins, style and interpretation, I think?) I was spinning quite well independently (using shoulders for momentum), but still couldn't do it as part of a move with a partner.

Only recently did I manage to start pulling off opposing spins for lady spins etc (still need a lot of work) and only in the last week or so have I managed to turn my man-spin and a bit, into a full man-spin (1.5 turns). That last improvement came with spotting.

Do a workshop and be prepared to practice for a long time!

Cheers Gav - I'd read conflicting advice on t'internet about whether your arms or legs which do the driving, and I have to say that arms and shoulders seem to be more effective - if I try to do it using my legs, I look as if I'm trying to hump a lampost.

Terpsichorea

22nd-March-2007, 12:23 PM

Gav

22nd-March-2007, 12:24 PM

Cheers Gav - I'd read conflicting advice on t'internet about whether your arms or legs which do the driving, and I have to say that arms and shoulders seem to be more effective - if I try to do it using my legs, I look as if I'm trying to hump a lampost.

Never seen someone try to hump a lampost so I'll take your word for it. :na: :D

Terpsichorea

22nd-March-2007, 12:39 PM

Never seen someone try to hump a lampost so I'll take your word for it. :na: :D

Hey, it gets lonely in Leeds sometimes!:yum:

Caro

22nd-March-2007, 12:41 PM

Sweet Lord, I have hit the motherlode! Thanks very much...and I will search the forum next time...:blush:

well done on the links Freya! :respect:

Just make sure you have somebody restraining WF from posting on this thread if you don't want it to end up 'outside' :whistle: :wink:

Freya

22nd-March-2007, 12:53 PM

I was always told to spin from the Hips...as this is closest to your centre of gravity.

If you think of it in terms of mechanics...just really figured how to put this into practice myself tho. Oh and I'm sure someone will contradict me!

In a normal stance then your centre of gravity (COG) is about your bellybutton and it is over the middle of you base of support (BOS). If your feet are shoulder-width apart then your belly button will be in the middle, equal distance from both feet!

Lets say you use the right foot to spin. In practise as you prepare the feet are offset with the right foot forward. All your weight should be over the right foot just using the left for balance and support. You should be on the ball of your foot to spin as well.

So going back to the COG...right before you spin your belly button should be directly over and in line with the ball of your right foot, your BOS. If your COG moves out with your BOS then it will be more difficult to maintain your balance. By spinning yourself with your shoulders then it's more likely that you'll become unbalanced!

Practice spinning really slowly till you manage to spin well balanced then speed it up!

spindr

22nd-March-2007, 02:42 PM

More random spinning notes (http://www.afterfive.co.uk/guide/latest/html/spins_pirouettes_and_turns.html).

SpinDr

Lee Bartholomew

22nd-March-2007, 03:00 PM

well done on the links Freya! :respect:

Just make sure you have somebody restraining WF from posting on this thread if you don't want it to end up 'outside' :whistle: :wink:

Too Late MMMMwwwwwhhahahahahahahaha

Anyway Andy doesn't post that much anymore :na: .

My advice......... :na:

Everyone has their own way of spinning. If you look at central Alex and Jamie they are fantastic spinners but do it in bit of an unconventional way.

What works for me is the ball of one foot, leg slightly bent and power from the shoulders and bringing the arms in close together. Alot of power also comes from the lead. Dancing with good leads who know you are going to spin can work wonders when they really force you in to it. Good moves for this are ceroc spin and catapult.

I personally don't spot and get dizzer if I do (de Javu :whistle: ), but do what works for you. I know most people do spot but not everyone does.

Decent shoes also help as does a good floor.

Practise practise practise.

Will one day get a decent youtube vid of it.

Caro

22nd-March-2007, 03:21 PM

Damn I couldn't resist I had to press the view post button :blush:

What works for me ...

does it? :devil:

Dancing with good leads who know you are going to spin can work wonders when they really force you in to it...

:sick:
Unless you mean 'prep you well' instead of 'really force you into', I can feel a whole new debate coming here...

Lee Bartholomew

22nd-March-2007, 03:35 PM

Unless you mean 'prep you well' instead of 'really force you into', I can feel a whole new debate coming here...

Na there is a big difference between being well preped and having a good strong lead that almost forces a spin.

Both are good but the second is better. For me anyway.:nice:

Gadget

23rd-March-2007, 09:33 AM

A good lead can compensate for poor balance and an inability to smoothly generate your own momentum without putting yourself off-balance, just as a poor lead can throw off a follower's balance and put in too much momentum in the wrong direction.

The key to spinning is balance, and the key to balance is 'strong' muscles, and the key to that is developing muscle memory to keep you balanced, and the key to that is practice.
Most spinning "technique" are ways to stop you from throwing yourself off balance - to convert momentum from one direction into rotational momentum about a centre-line that ends in the contact with the floor. You don't have to be symetrical about this centre-line, but you do have to be balanced with equal weight/mass/momentum on either side.
{I think that the trick to all these strange shaped spins that you see ice skaters and professional dancers do is in identifying where this line lies... and knowing how to balance themselves on it's axis}

I would recommend (as Freya says) practicing slowly; finish your spin, pause, then place the other foot: If you have to use your 'push' foot to stop yourself or to stop falling over, odds are that you're using too much power.

straycat

23rd-March-2007, 10:09 AM

Na there is a big difference between being well preped and having a good strong lead that almost forces a spin.

You're not wrong there...

Both are good but the second is better. For me anyway.:nice:

And for your partner? IMOFO, 'forcing' your partner into anything is BAD™

Terpsichorea

23rd-March-2007, 10:28 AM

During my search of the Interwebs, I can across this helpful video. And yes I KNOW it's in a realm beyond cheesy, but the basic advice seems to be quite sound:

http://www.videojug.com/film<WBR>/how-to-pull-of-the-michael<WBR>-jackson-spin (http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-pull-of-the-michael-jackson-spin)

MartinHarper

23rd-March-2007, 10:37 AM

Is it bad technique for a follow to generate momentum in her spin by pushing off the leader's hand?

A good lead can compensate for poor balance and an inability to smoothly generate your own momentum without putting yourself off-balance.

Definately. I reckon a competent intermediate can get me to do an extra half spin (over what I can manage comfortably solo), and a good dancer can get me to do an extra spin, just from the extra balance and momentum.

David Bailey

23rd-March-2007, 10:46 AM

Is it bad technique for a follow to generate momentum in her spin by pushing off the leader's hand?
I know little about spinning, but isn't the vast majority of momentum generated from your legs?

So a "strong lead" for a spin may involve some extra force, but is more likely to involve more advance signalling and prep time / space?

Lee Bartholomew

23rd-March-2007, 10:51 AM

When Dancing With Central Alex, Jamie and Other follows that I know love to spin, I lead the spin with alot of power in the arm, That helps give momentum in to the spin. Of course doing this wrong can throw balance but doing it right is great when they pull off X amount of really quick spins.

Likewise, if someone really throws me in to one it's great. If I dont want to spin at the time they force one, I just put the other foot on the floor and brake it in to one. Without that forcing in to one, I can do around 8 or so, with a good strong forced spin, in the right conditions, double figures is not unusual.

The power comes from the upper body and the lead, not from the legs. If you think what causes the spin, it's the momentum of weight. The weight is all on the upper part.

Gav

23rd-March-2007, 10:51 AM

I know little about spinning, but isn't the vast majority of momentum generated from your legs?

So a "strong lead" for a spin may involve some extra force, but is more likely to involve more advance signalling and prep time / space?

Different people have different techniques. When I spin (as a leader), I get little or no momentum from the follower and yet the vast majority of momentum comes from my shoulders, not my legs.

David Bailey

23rd-March-2007, 11:05 AM

Different people have different techniques. When I spin (as a leader), I get little or no momentum from the follower and yet the vast majority of momentum comes from my shoulders, not my legs.
Good point. Turning technique should be powered by torsion created between the lats, apparently...
Or, from this (previously-referenced) link (http://www.afterfive.co.uk/guide/latest/html/spins_pirouettes_and_turns.html):

(for an anti-clockwise spin)

To generate the torsion the shoulders and dance frame are rotated slightly clockwise — in opposition to the direction of the subsequent rotation.
Interestingly, if I understand this correctly, this is the opposite of what happens in Tango - where the upper body is aligned in the direction of the turn to start with - but it uses the same "torsion" (or "dissociation") principles...

Little Monkey

23rd-March-2007, 11:43 AM

I'm not a good spinner, but....

...I've found it really helps my balance and focus if I tighten my abdominal muscles to help keep my 'core' strong and balanced when I go into a spin. And I do spot (to a certain degree, I'm not very good), and get more dizzy if I don't.

Also, I absolutely hate it if a leader tries to force or throw me into a multiple spin, as 9 times out of 10 this just results in him throwing me off balance. You don't need a lot of force from your partner to do a multiple spin! Good tension and balance, and wooosh, off you go.

Right, better get some more practice....:rolleyes:

Lee Bartholomew

23rd-March-2007, 12:20 PM

Also, I absolutely hate it if a leader tries to force or throw me into a multiple spin, as 9 times out of 10 this just results in him throwing me off balance. You don't need a lot of force from your partner to do a multiple spin! Good tension and balance, and wooosh, off you go.

Your right, Alot of leaders do throw off balance when forcing spins but the good ones don't and seem to know when you whether you want to be forced or not (at least if you have a good dancing partnership with them)

Groovemeister

23rd-March-2007, 01:25 PM

You end up playing the how many spins game when you get it right.

I never know how many my regular partner is going to do as I always put the same amount of tension in and sometimes she will end up doing as many as she fancy's from 1 to whatever.

I just try and get her back on my spins.

Little Monkey

23rd-March-2007, 01:54 PM

Your right, Alot of leaders do throw off balance when forcing spins but the good ones don't and seem to know when you whether you want to be forced or not (at least if you have a good dancing partnership with them)

Indeed.

And of course everyone's different, and some ladies like a bit more of a forceful lead into a spin, while others prefer a lighter lead.... But as you said, the good leads will normally figure this out when they dance with you, and adjust their lead accordingly.

NZ Monkey

23rd-March-2007, 02:03 PM

I know little about spinning, but isn't the vast majority of momentum generated from your legs?
To put another spin (get it? spin? Ok, I'll stop now...) on the preceeding advice, if you push off with your legs you're inducing a tipping motion in your body. This throws your balance from the very beginning of the spin and your balance doesn't usually get any better after multiple spins.

You can use your legs to generate power in the spin, but best practice is not by pushing against the floor. Ballerinas are a good example, with their non-standing leg being used to adjust their inertia.

Lee Bartholomew

23rd-March-2007, 03:02 PM

Oh how great it would be to be able to spin like this man Lol. YouTube - Incredible Spin Move by Michael Jackson (http://youtube.com/watch?v=FgKY-JJn_Do)

Im almost there in that I norm fall over at the end and make girls cry (but don't do the (alleged) Jesus Juice and minors thing)

THis is one way of doing it. Might Help. YouTube - Teaching spin move (http://youtube.com/watch?v=1rJq80xIRSw)

And this YouTube - Jarrett dancing like Michael Jackson (http://youtube.com/watch?v=Bnr9ppcXmZ8)

YouTube - Michael Jackson's spins' (http://youtube.com/watch?v=ySQskl80uSw)

YouTube - Falling when trying to spin ;p (http://youtube.com/watch?v=NaYaKs9WFRM)

Freya

23rd-March-2007, 03:31 PM

You can use your legs to generate power in the spin, but best practice is not by pushing against the floor. Ballerinas are a good example, with their non-standing leg being used to adjust their inertia.

When I was taught ballet The other leg is used as support prior to the spin and after, and during the spin it is supposed to help you maintain your balance and as NZ Monkey said adjusting the inertia. I was also taught that all the power from the spin came from the hips and torso. If you throw your arms into the spin then it again will cause it to be more difficult to maintain your balance.

I find that when leading most guys they require a stronger lead than I use when leading women! therfore when leading them in a free spin it does need a bit more power! However if a guy puts alot of power into his lead then relax your arm and this will absorb a lot of the power and so hopefully you won't become unbalanced!

I can't really do more than 3 without losing balance or having to change feet to maintain balance and this adds a bit of travel into the equation!

Rachel

23rd-March-2007, 05:14 PM

When I was taught ballet The other leg is used as support prior to the spin and after, and during the spin it is supposed to help you maintain your balance and as NZ Monkey said adjusting the inertia. I was also taught that all the power from the spin came from the hips and torso. If you throw your arms into the spin then it again will cause it to be more difficult to maintain your balance. ...I kind of agree with this. I did ballet for, ummm, 30-odd years (God, I'm old!), so it's ballet technique that still feels most natural for me when doing turns and spins.

For me, it's definitely about the legs and head. And balance – spins are all about balance. If you can balance on one leg, you have the ability to spin.

Once you have the balance, all you need is a little momentum and direction.

To get the balance, you need a strong core, as little Monkey and others have said. A tight stomach, a centred head (e.g. not looking at the floor), arms and second leg tucked in close to your body and not flailing around.

To get the initial momentum we would normally step onto the supporting leg or push off something solid (e.g. our partner's hand).

Then for the direction/turn, I personally use the legs. I rotate the thigh within the hip bone and push the heel of the supporting foot forward (forward for outward turns, anyway). But you must ensure that the leg is absolutely solid from ankle to thigh (even if you chose to bend your knee a little) and that the leg is isolated from the hip. The torso, also, must be lifted out of the hips.

To keep the momentum going, I find that use of the head is the best thing. Considering that the head is the heaviest part of our body, use of spotting – focusing on a fixed point and then whipping the head round at the last minute – provides more than enough power for multiple spins.

Use of the arms for turning is, for me, largely irrelevant. But ... they can help to get the initial momentum going by whipping the arm in from the side to a fixed position close to the body.

I also skim the floor with my second foot as I'm turning – partly to stop me going too fast, partly to ensure that it's close to the other foot and not stuck out in the air somewhere, and partly to stop me going into ballet pirouette position which would probably look pretty silly in an mj dance.

So, yes, that's what I do, but different things work for different people. Some people are saying use the shoulders, torso, etc. Try different things out and see what's best for you. Above all, for me, it's the legs – legs for turning, stomach and posture for balance, and head for number of spins.

You can probably pick up a lot from watching what other people do wrong – it sounds bad, but it's so hard to see the faults in ourselves! Most common faults are to do, again, with balance – the head down/off-centre, the arms or second leg flailing away from the body. And people launching themselves into spins with so much force that it's impossible to get the body into the right position for the necessary control.

The best practice is to learn how to do slow controlled half and single spins. If you can do that, multiple spins are really not much more difficult – mostly just a case of fixing yourself in your turning position and staying there until you choose to stop.

Good luck! It's not easy and remember, we all have off days and we all turn better one way than the other, so don't be too hard on yourself.

Rachel

Jamie

23rd-March-2007, 05:28 PM

When Dancing With Central Alex, Jamie and Other follows that I know love to spin, I lead the spin with alot of power in the arm, That helps give momentum in to the spin. Of course doing this wrong can throw balance but doing it right is great when they pull off X amount of really quick spins.

It's really hard to get that balance, there's only a few people I know who can get that right.

Worst thing is, when your dancing with a lead who wants you to spin lots, then gives you a pathetic amount of power.. or worse, does a CerocSpin...:angry:

LadySpin's all the way! :flower:

David Bailey

23rd-March-2007, 05:33 PM

{ snip massive description }
:respect: :clap: :worthy:

The best practice is to learn how to do slow controlled half and single spins.
I think this is a key point - a lot of people are saying "do as many as you can", but to me, one spin (or a half-turn) done well is better than 6 done badly.

So practice should focus on the boring aspect of getting technique right for a single spin, rather than the more interesting "let's see how many I can do" aspect.

Technique again... :wink:

Little Monkey

23rd-March-2007, 05:47 PM

I think this is a key point - a lot of people are saying "do as many as you can", but to me, one spin (or a half-turn) done well is better than 6 done badly.

Agree. But a lot of leaders get stroppy/disappointed/patronising (oh, so you can't do multiple spins?) if I slow myself down and only do one spin, when they've tried to throw me into multiple spins. If I feel I'm off balance when they apply force and try to make me do multiple spins, I'll (most of the time) just not do them.

Most of the time I do multiple spins when I want to do them, and don't need any extra 'help' from the leader to get the momentum I need to them!:rolleyes:

Gav

23rd-March-2007, 05:51 PM

Agree. But a lot of leaders get stroppy/disappointed/patronising (oh, so you can't do multiple spins?) if I slow myself down and only do one spin, when they've tried to throw me into multiple spins. If I feel I'm off balance when they apply force and try to make me do multiple spins, I'll (most of the time) just not do them.

Most of the time I do multiple spins when I want to do them, and don't need any extra 'help' from the leader to get the momentum I need to them!:rolleyes:

Really? Wow, I lead a spin and leave it to you how many you do. If you push harder than normal on my leading hand, I'll push back a bit harder on the spin, but that's about it.

If they do that to you, have you ever considered, next time do a multiple spin but finish with a hand out at about face level?

David Bailey

23rd-March-2007, 05:54 PM

Agree. But a lot of leaders get stroppy/disappointed/patronising (oh, so you can't do multiple spins?) if I slow myself down and only do one spin, when they've tried to throw me into multiple spins.
To me, it's just like "lots of complicated moves" - (or, for that matter, hijacking) - people get carried away by the form, and ignore the technique.

Most of the time I do multiple spins when I want to do them, and don't need any extra 'help' from the leader to get the momentum I need to them!:rolleyes:
Well, to be fair, I think it's good to be given a clear opening (i.e. a bit of extra time), as most people can't do 2 spins as fast as one. But yes, I think most spinning - like most moves - should be doable by the follower with little or not assistance from the leader.

Lee Bartholomew

23rd-March-2007, 06:13 PM

Spinning is no different from any other move, be it an arm jive, basket or first move.

Everybody has a way of doing each move that makes them a unique dancer. Thats what gets on my back when people say, oh your doing this wrong, it should be done like this. There is no right and wrong way of spinning. As long as it is comfortable to you and doesn't kill/main/injure anyone, why fuss over it?

If you want to pull of X amount of spin's, practise till you find something that suits you. If you want 1 spin to look stylish, practice till you find something that suits you.

Yes ballet dancers can spin 10's of times but their style wouldn't fit in to MJ, just as one stylish MJ spin wouldn't fit in to ballet.

The only other true peice of advice anyone can give one spinning other than practise, is decent footwear.

Jamie

23rd-March-2007, 06:23 PM

Agree. But a lot of leaders get stroppy/disappointed/patronising (oh, so you can't do multiple spins?) if I slow myself down and only do one spin, when they've tried to throw me into multiple spins. If I feel I'm off balance when they apply force and try to make me do multiple spins, I'll (most of the time) just not do them.

I usually speed up one spin, specially from a hatchback or something where the leader has to turn. Best I've ever heard is someone looking at me gone out saying, ur supposed to spin then, in actual fact, I'd spun faster than the time it took him to turn half a turn to face me. :rofl:

Andy McGregor

23rd-March-2007, 06:27 PM

Anyway Andy doesn't post that much anymore :na: But it doesn't mean I'm not watching you Mr woodface :wink:

My advice......... :na: Is it worth taking?

MartinHarper

23rd-March-2007, 07:28 PM

Most of the time I do multiple spins when I want to do them, and don't need any extra 'help' from the leader to get the momentum I need to them!:rolleyes:

I occasionally lead double spins. I don't do so because I think my partner needs "help", but rather because as a leader I'm meant to lead stuff. The difference between a single spin and a double spin is reasonably leadable, though I'll grant that it's not an exact science.

If my partner hijacks by doing more or less spins, or doing them at a different speed, or doing them in the opposite direction, that's something else.

Lee Bartholomew

18th-May-2007, 01:26 PM

The other great skill to have is not just getting x amount of spins in but the being able to get them to fit in the timing of the music.

robd

18th-May-2007, 01:40 PM

The other great skill to have is not just getting x amount of spins in but the being able to get them to fit in the timing of the music.

In the context of a partner dance, I would say that is THE most important aspect to get right. And it's as bad if the spinning is so fast that the spinner finishes ahead of the beat as behind it.

Emma Pettit is the person who has done the most impressively quick multiple spins that I have danced with - she was around pretty much before I had blinked. Mind you, i have never lead CentrAlex and I think he will have taken a lot of inspiration from her for his spinning style. Joseph (of J & Sadie) was pretty impressive during their cabaret at Camber last year though that was solo spinning.

Astro

18th-May-2007, 03:10 PM

I find it impossible to know how many spins I've actually done, it's one blur to me.

Also I'm never sure if I've gone off course sometimes, or if the lead has stepped back.

Lee Bartholomew

18th-May-2007, 03:11 PM

I find it impossible to know how many spins I've actually done, it's one blur to me.

Also I'm never sure if I've gone off course sometimes, or if the lead has stepped back.

The only true way to know that is either video or get someone to watch. :grin:

under par

18th-May-2007, 03:16 PM

The only true way to know that is either video or get someone to watch. :grin:

or count how many times you've spotted!:D

Lee Bartholomew

18th-May-2007, 03:20 PM

or count how many times you've spotted!:D

I spotted Mark Lemar once.

Astro

19th-May-2007, 01:40 PM

The only true way to know that is either video or get someone to watch. :grin:
I see, thanks.:flower: It's pointless asking them, they don't seem to know what I'm talking about.

or count how many times you've spotted!:D
I don't spot, because there doesn't seem to be time to mark somewhere. I suppose it's a habit to acquire.

I must try and remember to do it as I get dizzy if I do loads of spins and need to get in a ballroom hold fast.

That doesn't happen often though. There is a definate knack, as Woodface says, to spinning a follower into multiples.

Jamie's going to be at Hammersmith tonight - don't think I have danced with him before, but may get some spins off him.:nice:

Lee Bartholomew

21st-May-2007, 10:26 AM

I see, thanks.:flower: It's pointless asking them, they don't seem to know what I'm talking about.

I don't spot, because there doesn't seem to be time to mark somewhere. I suppose it's a habit to acquire.

I must try and remember to do it as I get dizzy if I do loads of spins and need to get in a ballroom hold fast.

That doesn't happen often though. There is a definate knack, as Woodface says, to spinning a follower into multiples.

Jamie's going to be at Hammersmith tonight - don't think I have danced with him before, but may get some spins off him.:nice:

When I told people I don't spot I got all kinds of greif.

I don't think I will ever get in to spotting. I get dizzier if I try.

I have learnt that if im doing loads of spins, to spot as I slow down on the last one or two.

With loads of spins, where I have done it so often, I have learnt how to tell whats going on around me. I can norm see what my dance partner is doing. I probly kind of spot, just not with the fixed position head turning thing.

Astro

21st-May-2007, 02:16 PM

When I told people I don't spot I got all kinds of greif.

I don't think I will ever get in to spotting. I get dizzier if I try.

I have learnt that if im doing loads of spins, to spot as I slow down on the last one or two.

With loads of spins, where I have done it so often, I have learnt how to tell whats going on around me. I can norm see what my dance partner is doing. I probly kind of spot, just not with the fixed position head turning thing.

At Hammersmith on Saturday after the music had finished Mythical practiced her spins.

Stoke Bloke counted 15 spins. :clap: She also did multiple turns too with Stoke Bloke.:eek:

The dress she had on was made for spinning. :drool: She didn't wear school uniform.

I asked Mythical whether she spots and she said no.

Good advice, thanks,:flower: will try spotting on the last one or two spins.

Hope you are up and spinning soon. Backs are strange things. There is a back injury thread called, wait for it......"Back Injury" by Lynn.

Mythical

21st-May-2007, 02:45 PM

Lory

21st-May-2007, 03:26 PM

What is this Spotting?
The only time I've 'spotted' was when I was restoring my car, and I don't think that's what I'm supposed to do when I'm spinning (I can't imagine anyone can do spot welds very well whilst spinning!)

During a spin, its when you keep your head facing the same 'spot' for as long as possible, then whip it round fast, to face the same 'spot' again..

Raul

22nd-May-2007, 02:47 PM

During a spin, its when you keep your head facing the same 'spot' for as long as possible, then whip it round fast, to face the same 'spot' again..

People can lose their heads over this.

I think that you are supposed to dissociate your head from your body i.e. your body turns and your head stays behind, then when it cant stay there anymore it catches up in a flash.

You could mislay your head this way - -

So if your find yourself typing something on the forum and then realise you did so without thinking - well it could be that your head was lagging behind, and it suddenly catches up again. That's "posting spotting".

Ooops there is my head now... too late!

nebula

22nd-May-2007, 04:09 PM

I know little about spinning, but isn't the vast majority of momentum generated from your legs?

So a "strong lead" for a spin may involve some extra force, but is more likely to involve more advance signalling and prep time / space?
As a follower, I find it really helpful when the leader does a proper block before sending me off into a spin. If the leader just rushes, say, from the side step into the froward spin, then I am not prepared, go off the wrong foot, and will lose balance, which makes me mad, doesn't look good, and totally undermines my ability. I do try to compensate, but before any of you say it - my legs just aren't long enough to step that far in front...:sad: I am so not a long-legged blonde...:tears: :tears: :tears:

Lee Bartholomew

22nd-May-2007, 04:48 PM

As a follower, I find it really helpful when the leader does a proper block before sending me off into a spin. If the leader just rushes, say, from the side step into the froward spin, then I am not prepared, go off the wrong foot, and will lose balance, which makes me mad, doesn't look good, and totally undermines my ability. I do try to compensate, but before any of you say it - my legs just aren't long enough to step that far in front...:sad: I am so not a long-legged blonde...:tears: :tears: :tears:

A good block and clear lead in to it really does help. When I dance with blueeyes I can get tonnes of spins out but peopel are abit miffed when they try to lead me in to them If i only do two or three because of their weak / unclear lead.