Do you spin better in one direction?

[SmartAlx]

I've noticed quite a few people spin incredibly well in one direction but not so well in the other. Is this normal?

 

[SmartAlx]

By the way I spin better to the left.

 

[bas]

I don't spin incredibly well in either direction but to my left definitely goes a lot better than to my right.

That said, on some nights (like tonight) I seem to have no sense of balance at all and spinning doesn't even enter my mind lest I fall over

 

[sweavo]

hugely better spinning to the right than the left. It comes from (a) right turns being more common in salsa and (b) not wanting to practice the direction that I'm worse at!

 

[Joy in Motion]

I am way better spinning unassisted to the left, and the same applies when I am led to turn or spin by a partner. I don't know if it's natural or learned, perhaps both but it feels learned to me. Before I started dancing, my only previous experience with turning/spinning was some gymnastics when I was younger. The benefit there is you can choose which direction you feel comfortable with and always go that way. So being right-handed, I did turns to the left (which is typically the case, so I suppose maybe it's natural and developed into a learned tendency?).

Our dance community is smaller and at a lower level, so unassisted spins are not common and I don't really practice much to get better at my weaker side. But I need to for when I visit other dance communities because I definitely notice the difference.

 

[MacMoto]

So being right-handed, I did turns to the left (which is typically the case, so I suppose maybe it's natural and developed into a learned tendency?).

This is new to me... I'm right handed and I turn to the right better.

With people around me, I noticed that I know more men who spin to the left better than women who prefer left spins. But this is completely anecdotal and only within my limited experience. No idea about lefties vs. righties. It may be interesting to do a poll with questions:

- I'm a right-handed male and I spin to the left better.
- I'm a right-handed male and I spin to the right better.
- I'm a left-handed male and I spin to the left better.
- I'm a left-handed male and I spin to the right better.
- I'm a right-handed female and I spin to the left better.
- I'm a right-handed female and I spin to the right better.
- I'm a left-handed female and I spin to the left better.
- I'm a left-handed female and I spin to the right better.

hugely better spinning to the right than the left. It comes from (a) right turns being more common in salsa and (b) not wanting to practice the direction that I'm worse at!

This is me :lol: My left spins are embarrasingly bad - I probably should practise it but it's so bad I hate practising it... :roll:

 

[sweavo]

This is me :lol: My left spins are embarrasingly bad - I probably should practise it but it's so bad I hate practising it... :roll:

haha. there's a new SF video project then! a few volunteers to record themselves spinning their less favourite direction once a week for 8 weeks and see if they improve!

 

[opm1s6]

hugely better spinning to the right than the left. It comes from (a) right turns being more common in salsa and (b) not wanting to practice the direction that I'm worse at!

really?! I would suspect that guys would do a lot more spinning to the left in partnerwork combinations, while women are more right prone. I spin to the left on 3 ALL the time.

 

[sweavo]

really?! I would suspect that guys would do a lot more spinning to the left in partnerwork combinations, while women are more right prone. I spin to the left on 3 ALL the time.

Hmm yeah you're probably right about partnerwork. I learned the right turn really early on in salsa and I teach it to beginners so that's where that came from. Noticing Joy in Motion saying left turns are the bias for right-handed people and I'm a lefty so maybe that has something to do with it too!

 

[Lola]

I'm a right handed, right spinning, female. Though there isn't really much of a difference in free spins. I wouldn't know with assisted as I NEVER GET TURNED MULTIPLE TIMES TO THE LEFT. This of course excludes CBL's with an inside turn and similar such moves as it travels and I think we're discussing in place.

Not even once, it's not an "Oh, I don't think she can manage", it's a never been attempted. Never even seen it in my scene.

 

[azzey]

Slight bias towards right spins (I'm left handed/footed), mainly because being a guy I prefer to prep on the 1 and do as many as I can fit in the remaining 7 beats.

Although miraculously I found my left spins were increasing on par with right even though I don't practice them much. I think it helps to do a *lot* of left and right turns. After years of turning you'll find your spins being more stable and able to do more.

If the music has a dramatic bit I'll sync to those accents (whatever beat they're on). Depending on what foot I used to prep musically, I'll spin in the direction that makes sense for the prep.

 

[opm1s6]

i wonder how much of this has also to do with on1 vs on2?

 

[Lola]

i wonder how much of this has also to do with on1 vs on2?

How so?

 

[GForce85]

I'm a turbo-spinner both ways; I've always practiced spinning both directions. During partnering I think I spin both ways around an equal number of times too, although my multiples are almost always to the left. Then I do them mostly to the right during shines haha.

 

[SmartAlx]

Did you ever notice that Michael Jackson always spins... er spun to the left? Anyone ever see him spin to the right? I'd be interested to see how well he spun to the right since he's so famous for spinning.