Thread: Spotting on ceiling while spinning

Is there any particular trick to spotting on the ceiling while turning? I like the look of those turns, sort of dervish style, but oh do they ever make me dizzy ..c:: ..c:: ..c:: My head automatically wants to snap around as I turn, but maybe that's counterproductive in this case, I'm not sure. I tried not focusing on anything, but that was even worse. Should the head make a quick turn so that you're always spotting on your spot from the same angle, or should you stare at the spot as you are turning without moving your head?

I can get up and walk in a straight line after five minutes of zar, but I have never felt dizziness like this before!

Spotting the ceiling? I don't think I've seen this before, but I can't imagine why anyone would want to... Can you describe further? Is it like an inverted barrel turn?

Marguerite talks about it on her "spins and turns" video, but doesn't really give any specific advice on how to decrease the dizziness that I can remember.

I can't look up while spinning either, but I think it looks really cool!

I think this is what I saw Shoshanna doing in one of the IAMED awards videos where she danced in a light blue costume with a four yard veil. Incredible spins! No idea how to do them though.

Regards
Priscilla

Originally Posted by badriya_al_ahmar

I can get up and walk in a straight line after five minutes of zar, but I have never felt dizziness like this before!

I'm the same way! I can throw my head around forever, turn with spotting and turn spotting my hand, no problem, but looking at the ceiling makes me sick to my stomach. I'm also someone who can't read in a moving vehicle, don't know if that has anything to do with it. I resigned to just doing a couple of turns in that position and that's about it.

Spinning when spotting you should look for something in front of you,if in a public place a picture on the wall, or even the exit sign. you must always spot and you won't get dizzy. Most dancers who spin do spot, but you wouldn't know it. Dervish spinning how not to get dizzy: spin in one direction slowly(lorena mckennitts marco polo is actually has sufi dervish in the song- good for practice spinning)then you naturally build up speed then you slow down at your own pace. I took Eva Cernick dervish workshop years ago. and i haven't gotten dizzy from spinning.
This works for me personally but make sure there are no obstacles in the way. I hope it helps.

Alrana

I do spinning spotting on the ceiling. I quite like the effect but when you are learning it is the most dizzying spin I think. It really will get better with practice. Just relax and don't panic when you start to feel a bit dizzy. Push past it a bit at a time.

A couple of points...make sure your head is not too far back. Tilt the head up and gaze up, don't throw your head all the way back. Ouch!

Second, your head should stay aligned with your body, no spinning it around to spot. Keep your head, neck and upper body aligned. Engaging your core and having strong posture while spinning helps to lend stability.

Lastly, if spotting on something on ceiling to keep centred is too dizzying, try closing your eyes. Go slow when you are practicing. I enjoy head roll spins and ceiling spins with my eyes closed. It may be less dizzying for some people to take away the visual stimulation and just focus on the muscle mechanics.

Good luck! I love these spins. Hope this helps!

Originally Posted by Uulady

A couple of points...make sure your head is not too far back. Tilt the head up and gaze up, don't throw your head all the way back. Ouch!

I don't know anything about these spins (but I'm gonna have to try now!) but I know some people get dizzy in yoga poses where the head is tilted back. Pressure on a nerve, or on the jugular vein? I don't remember. But we're not even spinning! So I'll bet Uulady is spot on with this advice!

When I do those spins I don't spot or concentrate on anything at all, except bring my gaze inward......
Uulady explains it better a few posts up....

Thanks for sharing that advice, Uulady, I'm going to try that. I'd love to be able to add these spins to my repertoire!

Glad to help! Happy spinning!

It always helps me to unfocus my eyes. Practice helps of course. Good Luck.

Thanks for all the advice! Sounds like I just need to resign myself to being dizzy for a while until I can get used to the feeling. I'll try a variety of the techniques mentioned here and see what works best for me. I too get ill if I read in a moving car (buses and trains are ok, it's just smaller vehicles) so maybe I'm limited in what I can do with this, but you've all given me the hope to keep trying!

Originally Posted by Uulady

I do spinning spotting on the ceiling. I quite like the effect but when you are learning it is the most dizzying spin I think. It really will get better with practice. Just relax and don't panic when you start to feel a bit dizzy. Push past it a bit at a time.

A couple of points...make sure your head is not too far back. Tilt the head up and gaze up, don't throw your head all the way back. Ouch!

Second, your head should stay aligned with your body, no spinning it around to spot. Keep your head, neck and upper body aligned. Engaging your core and having strong posture while spinning helps to lend stability.

Lastly, if spotting on something on ceiling to keep centred is too dizzying, try closing your eyes. Go slow when you are practicing. I enjoy head roll spins and ceiling spins with my eyes closed. It may be less dizzying for some people to take away the visual stimulation and just focus on the muscle mechanics.

Good luck! I love these spins. Hope this helps!

Yes, if you spot but occassionally close your eyes, you get less dizzy. Particularly if your doing the head back staring at the ceiling spin! Also, keep one foot flat and don't bob up and down. Keeping the spin even with minimum head movement works well. For head rolls, close eyes.

Originally Posted by *maria*

When I do those spins I don't spot or concentrate on anything at all, except bring my gaze inward......
Uulady explains it better a few posts up....

I think this is easier, to just zone out and not try to focus on anything. Sometimes I focus on my own hand in front of me.

Lisa

I stay dizzy less long if I ceiling spot, then spot on the wall for a bit before stopping. Going straight from ceiling spotting to stopping is terrible for me.

Also, don't ceiling spot when under a moving ceiling fan! ..c:: ..l;,

Two and a half years later, I'm happy to say that these turns are no problem for me now--though recently I did one in a venue with a mirrored ceiling and almost hypnotized myself ..l;, What I have found works best for me is to pick a spot on the ceiling, then allow my eyes to unfocus slightly as I'm spinning. To come out of it, I tilt my head back down, pick a spot on the wall/crowd/whatever and spin once or twice more spotting that. The key was indeed practice, and a lot of sitting on a heap on the floor saying to myself "I will not throw up I will not throw up I will not throw up!" ,r:;

hmmm - if I'm "dervish" spinning - I focus on something that's moving too... my hand, or the edge of a my veil.

Originally Posted by badriya_al_ahmar

Is there any particular trick to spotting on the ceiling while turning? I like the look of those turns, sort of dervish style, but oh do they ever make me dizzy ..c:: ..c:: ..c:: My head automatically wants to snap around as I turn, but maybe that's counterproductive in this case, I'm not sure. I tried not focusing on anything, but that was even worse. Should the head make a quick turn so that you're always spotting on your spot from the same angle, or should you stare at the spot as you are turning without moving your head?

I can get up and walk in a straight line after five minutes of zar, but I have never felt dizziness like this before!

and without spotting, would that be ok for you?
The more I do it, the more comfortable and stable I feel.
and I tell you I used to get really sick, it hurt! Just spinning and laying my head to one side: instant nausea ..c::
But practice is best. I learned more because I didn't want this part of the choreo everyone was struggling with being ditched, so everytime I said, no, let's try it! And, to give a good example, I went for it eagerly. Alone at home was harder! Our ballerina told us, that Viennese waltz was the same, you get used to it!

In the meantime I love it. I spotted my hand first, and now I can look wherever I like. It's even great not to spot, because you don't have to concentrate, you can give yourself up and the stability is inside. I can put my head almost whereever I want, but I don't look, my focus is somewhere else, within me or a bit spaced out, the outer world looses it's meaning.

Still, when I stop, it takes a moment to regain a clear picture of the outside world !