Spotting (dance technique)

As a dancer turns, spotting is performed by rotating the body and head at different rates.

While the body rotates smoothly at a relatively constant speed, the head periodically rotates much faster and then stops, so as to fix the dancer's gaze on a single location (the spotting point, or simply the spot).

For example, adagio turns — in which the aesthetics are intended to convey serenity and calm — would be disturbed by the abrupt head movements of spotting.

An adaptation of spotting is used in first person video games to avoid simulation sickness caused by scenery changes that are uncorrelated with body movement.

For example, a visible crosshair or targeting reticle is provided in Mirror's Edge as a spotting reference point.