If you said en dehors (I’m not forgetting my audience, here), you’d be right no matter what.  However, the question is, is this dancer spinning clockwise or counterclockwise?  Are you sure?

This image is one of many fun optical illusions circulating on the internet.  Many claim that your brain hemisphere dominance (right or left-brained) is determined by the direction you see the dancer turning.  I doubt the truth in this, however, it is a fun visual exercise.

What you mean?  I can only see her spinning in one direction!

The above silhouette has no indicating lines on the body (as most images do) to tell the viewer which leg is in front of or behind the other.  Therefore, the dancer can be seen moving either counterclockwise or clockwise, depending on the eye of the beholder.  For instance, look at these two images which do have indicator lines (note: the L and R indicate the standing leg, not the direction of the turn).  Do you see the difference?

Now look back at the first image.  Has it changed?  Actually looking away from the image is what helped me to eventually see the dancer turning in the opposite direction.  Once I was able to see the image from both perspectives it was easier to switch back and forth between the two.  Interestingly, the first time I ever viewed this image, I recall seeing the dancer moving counterclockwise.  However, having returned to the image to write this post, I initially saw the dancer moving clockwise.  I don’t know what that says about my brain, perhaps it says more about my state of mind, or the tiredness of my eyes, or something else entirely!

For more optical illusions like this one, visit this page.

What about you?  Which direction does the image spin for you?  Were you able to see it go the other direction?

© Nichelle Strzepek for Dance Advantage, 2008. | Permalink | 4 comments | Category: Blog, For Fun

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Players use the board to perform aerobic exercises, strength training and even yoga — all while trying to keep pace with an avatar on the TV screen. They also get verbal encouragement and feedback on technique.

Could this balance board also offer appropriate feedback on technique for a ballet barre or for tap dancers? Could a wider dance floor-type board make the Wii more useful for dance movements that are less stationary? Could the board help correct placement issues like pronation/supination (rolling-in or out when standing) or pelvic alignment, provide assessment of one’s take-off or landing from jumps, or actually teach steps – from a jazz square to a pas de bourre to a time step? Would this lead to more do-it-yourself dance training and decreased enrollment in classes? I have not used Wii Fit but am curious to try it out.

What are some of your thoughts? Would you utilize the technology for dance if it were available? What are some other ways you could see this technology being useful for the study of dance?

© Nichelle Strzepek for Dance Advantage, 2008. | Permalink | 4 comments | Category: Blog, For Fun

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Locomotor Movements

W F X C S J T G N B R G M R P
H R Z L E U I R F O U P S C A
J F I R U Q M W H E N G X O E
L D G N G E W P K U A P M O L
E G C D N U T S U D A V Q N T
J A H D W I C U L G P T H S G
S L X O Q P X E O V I Q G V H
W L F C P G G S A Q X S P H U
M O F Z J C R B C I P M P Y X
F P O X V P M P I K S K B R F
P G D N U D S O R W L T Y B G
F M R O L L Z Z U A X H G Q P
O R U W M G S W W V S A Y U O
R M O J E K B V N Z V L I B H
C I G H T X H B U V R X U K F

GALLOP
HOP
JUMP
LEAP
ROLL
RUN
SKIP
SLIDE
WALK

Created by Puzzlemaker at DiscoveryEducation.com

© Nichelle Strzepek for Dance Advantage, 2008. | Permalink | CLICK HERE to comment | Category: Blog, For Classroom, For Fun, For Teachers/Studio Owners

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