Which way is this dancer spinning?
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 do 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 Suzanne is a writer specializing in dance and online content. She is also a dance instructor with over 20 years experience teaching in dance studios, community programs, and colleges. She began Dance Advantage in 2008, equipped with a passion for movement education and an intuitive sense that a blog could bring dancers together. As a Houston-based dance writer, Nichelle covers dance performance for Dance Source Houston, Arts+Culture Texas, and other publications. She is a leader in social media within the dance community and has presented on blogging for dance organizations, including Dance/USA. Nichelle provides web consulting and writing services for dancers, dance schools and studios, and those beyond the dance world. Read Nichelle’s posts.
