I can't spot. Or, no, I can sort of spot. Like... I can look at that thing over there while I'm turning and whip my head around so that I appear to be spotting and travel in the general direction of my gaze. But it doesn't work, you see. I'm nearsighted.
Everyone in my family has completely whack vision, so it's not like this is something I don't know how to live with. My eyes really blew out on me to the point that it was noticeable in high school. I was awkward and bullied, though, so I scraped along with my shitty vision until I graduated. I insisted on getting glasses before college because I actually cared about college. Still, I only really wore them in class. The last time I had my eyes checked at the DMV (at age 29) I somehow managed to pass the test. Well, no, I failed the test. So then they gave me an easier test and said I was fine to drive with no corrective lens requirement on my license. Which really explains some things about California drivers, but anyway. As soon as I hit 30 it was like switching off a light. I have worn my glasses full-time for the past 2 years. Except in ballet class.
Because they get all sweaty and gross and fog up and when you turn they fly right off your face and across the room. It's just not worth it. It's not like I am reading any road signs in there, right? There are big neon colored sheets of paper taped to every surface in the studio, to give us something obvious to spot and aim towards. But... uhm... yeah... it still doesn't work. I can't quiiiiite focus my eyes on anything so my spotting is effectively useless and I end every turning combination dizzy as all heck.
So far my solution has been jumping up and down gently after each pass and hoping that straightens it out before I have to attempt the turns from the other side of the room. Very professional, I know.
I have a real problem with spotting too. I don't lose my glasses, but the rapid changes of focus don't work well for me. I've started taking them off when we're doing something with lots of turns. For me that makes things a bit blurry, but not so bad that I can't manage.
ReplyDeleteMy big issue is that I can't actually turn my head far enough to be able to see my spot right away. There's always a moment after I turn my head of watching the world spin until my spot comes into view. Not sure how to fix that, short of demonic possession.
Someone in one of my classes swears that if you hold your flattened hand up in line with your nose that it'll help make the world stop spinning. Something about isolating one eye from the other. I don't know that it really works. I usually just put my head against the barre along the side wall and close my eyes for a few seconds.