Sometimes when getting into tighter spins, or turning more often you can feel like you’ve just bought a one-way ticket to the chunder bus.
Spotting During A Turn
The most effective piece of advice I can offer, that is useful for all dancers is spotting.
Spotting is where you pick an object or area in front of you to focus on. You keep focused on this area during your turn, and then you find it again as you come round.
I found a quick video tutorial here which might explain it better:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aly61eZKkOk
Spotting will also make your turns look sharper, and improve your positioning!
Speak Up About getting Dizzy
If you are a follower and you are getting dizzy, tell your leader. You can either use verbal cues, or non-verbal facial expressions (my partner is very good at this) to signal your disapproval.
Reject The Lead
If you’ve had enough, stop playing. You can always choose not to respond to the lead. This might give you chance to get your bearings and send a message to the leader that you’re not a dreidel.
Remember you are being invited to turn. The lead is a signal, not a command! If the lead raises a hand, you can pull it back down.
Resist Self Turning
Some dancers may interpret a certain style of lead as a turn when none was intended. So if you think the turning is excessive, you might not actually be rejecting any lead, just misinterpreting it.
Go in for The Clinch
Like a heavy weight in the 9th round, you can always force a close hold which might encourage your lead to take the technicalities down a notch and slow the pace.
Obviously this tactic is more suitable when dancing with someone you know well!
Abort
If you’ve tried the above and your still getting thrown about, it would be better to walk away from this one than throwing up on your leader’s sequins.
Leaders
Finally, my last tip for the leaders would be that if you’re turning too much and feeling ill.
Then stop doing it.