Having good turns can take your dance skills and confidence to a whole new level. Developing your turning skills for ballet, jazz funk, or even hip-hop, takes time and patience. Several small skills, including spotting, core strength, and your entrances and exits to turns contribute to your ability to turn well.
It’s all in the Spotting!
When it comes to turns, spotting is your best friend. It prevents you from getting dizzy and disoriented in your turn. Focus on one non-moving spot in the room as you turn, and don’t take your eyes off of it. Whip your head around until you can focus on that spot again, the faster you whip your head, the faster your turns can be. Make sure to practice slow turns at first so you can get used to the feeling of spotting, then you can make them faster as you feel more comfortable.
Having the Core Strength
Your core is what gives you balance and stability during turns. Building your core strength will make a big difference in your progress. There are plenty of core workouts that you can do that won’t take much time, such as plank holds and Russian twists. A solid core allows you to stay up when doing multiple turns, so these exercises are a good investment.
Having the Correct Prep
Strong and consistent prep for your turns will help them to be successful. Make sure that the correct body parts are in alignment with one another. This includes your hips, feet, knees, and arms. Focus on making sure you have a solid plié where your weight is evenly distributed. Practice plié holds at the ballet barre, distributing your weight evenly between your right and left foot.
Having the correct amount of Momentum
Momentum allows you to complete several turns in a row. However, too much momentum in your turns can lead to poor balance and make you fall out of your turns. Focus on finding your plié and using your arms to start the turn. It might seem like your turns take place in your feet, but your upper body impacts how your turns start and end.
Keep Practicing!
Consistency is going to be the best thing when it comes to turns. The conditioning and exercise required to turn well build many small habits and areas of strength over time. Stay consistent with practicing them, and you will see improvement. Use these exercises to start small with single turns and then work your way up to more once you feel confident in singles.
