Pirouettes are a foundational piece for so many dance moves. They can be fun and exciting (when they go well), or they can be frustrating. Getting the “perfect” pirouette takes practice, patience, and time. Whether you are just trying to nail a single pirouette, go for a double, or even a triple, be patient with yourself. If you are struggling with your turns, don’t stress! Let’s tackle some technical issues together.
Your Supporting Leg Isn’t Straight
If you feel unbalanced or wobbly in your turns, your supporting leg may be bending. When you aren’t engaging or straightening your supporting leg, your rotations will be unbalanced, slowing you down and making you fall out of the turn.
Fix It
Invisible String
Imagine there is an invisible string pulling you up from your toes to the top of your head.
Keeping Engaged
Engaging the primary muscles used in your turns (your quads and glutes) allows you to stay up longer.
Staying Balanced
Practice staying up in your passé and holding it as long as you can. This will let you see if you are strong enough to support yourself when turning.
An Un-engaged Core
Your core works all the magic for your pirouettes. If you feel unbalanced in the middle of a turn, that could mean you are not engaging your core muscles, leaving your center unstable.
Fix It
Zip it Up
When you zip up a sweater or a dress, you know it is going to stay in place. Imagine that you are zipping your abs up like a zipper, holding that position so they stay tight and in place.
Avoid Arching
Focus on keeping your ribs in and not arching your back. When you start to arch, it throws your balance off into one direction. We want to stay centered!
Put in the Work
Strengthen your core muscles with exercises like planks, sit-ups, and Russian twists.
Uneven Arms
Your arms are part of what is going to control the momentum used in your turns. If they are opened too wide or not where they should be, they will throw you off balance.
Fix It
Correct Arm Position
Make sure that your arms stay rounded and in first position, placed slightly in front of your body.
Multitasking
In front of a mirror practice your arm placement staying consistent while spotting for your turn.
Spotting
Spotting is such an essential part of any turn. It is what allows you to turn without getting dizzy or spinning out of control. If your head is moving around at a slow speed, your body is going to follow it.
Fix It
Practice
Work on picking one spot in the room to focus on. Make sure your eyes are looking at it for as long as possible as you turn.
Head Movement
Increase the speed of whipping your head around while maintaining control of your body.
