pirouette position

[semperfidancer]

I am told I have wonderful placement for pirouettes, then how come I can only do triples, and not anymore, or I can't turn fast? Help!!

[Victoria Leigh]

Possibly because you have not been dancing long enough to acquire the technique for even three, much less more. If you can do a clean double, in good position, with no sickle foot, rotation of the working thigh, and finish cleanly by lifting up and placing yourself into the 4th or 5th position, that would be a lot for someone with less than two years of training. At this stage in your training it is much more important to focus on the quality, not the quatity. Muliple turns beyond 3 can become circus tricks very easily, and not technique.

[semperfidancer]

Thank you Ms. Leigh for the advice, I will have to remember that as I do the pirouettes. I am able to do a clean double just as you said, and doing pirouettes to the left side (turnig left) I am able to do a clean triple like that as well. My teachers have said to me that I have the ability to do clean four pirouettes, but I just can't, I don't get around for some reason. Do i need to spott stronger and faster? I just really need to work on chinae turns as well (ie turning fast), any suggestions? Thank you so much!!

[Victoria Leigh]

As I said, it comes with time and training. That's what classes are for. There are tons of posts on turning, including chaînés. Do a bit of searching dear.

[semperfidancer]

Thank you, I will do just that! Thanks!

[Guest Terin]

I have the same kind of problem- but I can barely do doubles. I think the main problem is that I tend to lose my placement as I go around. I feel like I have to swing my body to get around. I know that's a really bad thing to do, and that you should just be able to spot and turn, but I still can't manage to get around that way. Is there any way to correct this???

[Victoria Leigh]

One would have to see you to help you with that, Terin. It could be placement, it could be not knowing how to use the motivating force and your back muscles, along with the legs, to generate the force, or it could be a lack of spot or of strength to hold the alignment long enough. Only your teacher can see these things and help you to fix them.

[Guest elle]

i'll just add that one thing that seriously improved my turning abilities was to just balance.............alot. every chance i get, before class, after class, in class, even when i'm just waiting for somebody in a parking lot, i just stand balanced in coupe or posse. (probably spelled that wrong ) that way i just keep finding my center over and over again and i make myself find it quickly so that in turns i can find my center right away and stay on balance during the turn. it also helps to spot quickly and to not think about it or sit in your preparation to long. just go for it and it usually turns out great. even if it doesn't at least your teacher will see that you're trying. just remember, don't lose your technique!

[Mel Johnson]

You balance in posse? You mean you stand on the horse while looking for the bad guys?

 

Actually, that's passé, which is actually a movement or a description of a step. What you're looking for is retiré. Same with coupé - it's a movement. What you want is (sur le) cou de pied.

[Guest elle]

sorry, i have REALLY bad spelling when it comes to ballet. i'd rather not even attempt it. i'd confuse you too much. Lol!

[Victoria Leigh]

Dancers, learning ballet terms is a part of your training, or certainly should be! It has nothing to do with being a good speller or not, it's a matter of learning the vocabulary of your art form. If your teachers don't teach it, then, unfortunately, it is up to you to learn it. There are books and websites which really make it quite easy to learn. Not knowing the vocabulary of ballet for a dancer is like someone who is illiterate trying to write for a living. (This is not just for you, elle, but for ALL of our Young Dancers!) I think it is very sad that the terms, and their meanings and the spelling, is not being taught today.

[Guest elle]

sorry, i can understand and use ballet vocabulary accurately in class, just when it comes to writing i have some real problems.

[Victoria Leigh]

I understand that, elle, however, I still feel that it is important to learn. It's just a matter of reading. When one reads ballet terms, then you learn them. Hearing them is not the same, especially when they are in a different language. You need to SEE them, and then you learn to write them!

[Guest elle]

thanks, i'll try to read more about ballet terms in the future.

[Mel Johnson]

The very best five dollars a ballet student can ever spend is for Gail Grant's Technical Manual and Dictionary of Classical Ballet. It's a classic all by itself, with HUNDREDS of ballet terms perfectly spelled and well-described.