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Stages of Spinning in Dance

Spinning in dance involves following several steps or stages. This allows the dancer to keep form and prevent dizziness that could leading to falling. Ballet especially has a strict set of steps required to perform a spin. Properly going through all of these stages allows the dancer to complete a balanced and smooth spinning motion.
  1. Static Balance

    • Static balance means that you balance while not in motion, according to bailamos-dance.com. This stage happens prior to the spin and is a proper way to begin a spin. Before any movement, a dancer establishes a strong balance and connection with the floor. This provides a starting base for the spin. If the dancer is off balance before the spin even starts, balance tends to degenerate quickly once the spin begins.

    Dynamic Balance

    • Dynamic balance means maintaining balance while in motion after the spin has begun, reports bailamos-dance.com. This stage occurs during and throughout the spin. It means that the dancer maintains her center of balance without needing to shift her vertical alignment. The center of balance should remain between the dancers feet. Maintaining that balance becomes more difficult as a dancer goes en pointe and reduces her surface contact area with the floor.

    Preventing Dizziness

    • A dancer must work to prevent dizziness during a spin. Fluid in the dancer's inner ear called endolymph continues to move even after the dancer stops. This can result in dizziness. Dizziness can be prevented by "spotting," the stage in the spin where the dancer chooses a spot to maintain focus. As her body spins, she maintains her eye contact with this spot until her body is turned too far to keep that point of focus. This is when the dancer whips her head around to find that spot again. By reducing the amount her head spins, a dancer thus reduces the chance of dizziness.

    Spin Speed

    • This stage happens just before and during the spin. The speed of the spin depends on the amount of power put into the spin. More central power means a faster spin. During the spin, if the dancer extends her arms, the spin speed slows. If she brings her arms close to her body, the speed of the spin increases.

Ballet

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