pirouettes from fifth en dehors

[iceydeville]

I'm currently dancing at a different studio from my old one and the other day, we did pirouettes from fifth position going en dehors.

 

I had never been taught how to to that from my old school. I eventually learned, though, and started off with going from fifth position to passe (retire?) and then doing a full turn.

 

However, I'm still having trouble transferring my weight from fifth to passe. Are there any tricks or visual images I can use to help me retrain my body/mind to do this?

 

Oh. and I dunno if this needs a new thread, but pirouettes at the barre. What's up with that?

 

As you can probably tell, my old studio wasn't too thorough when teaching ballet.

 

Thanks!

[Victoria Leigh]

icey, pirouettes at the barre are generally used to teach them, and to practice finding your center and controlling a single pirouette, ending "up", and not falling into the 5th or 4th position.

 

Pirouettes from 5th position are exactly the same as doing a relevé passé or a relevé to the retiré position. For en dehors pirouette you need to push into the demi plié with your FRONT leg and spring up on top of the other leg. When you finish one turn and plié for the next one be sure that your weight remains over the supporting leg but still use the push into the front foot as it hits the plié. The up and around portion should be longer than the plié portion when doing consecutive turns. In other words stay up as long as possible and make a short, quick plié to get back up again. Do not stop and have a cup of coffee in the 5th position!

[Guest Future Star]

also scooping the toes of the retire leg across will help you get on top of the standing leg during the pirouette. I also have trouble with these turns too and you can try and think of it as a balance with a spot and a whip of the arm to get you around but make sure you don't apply too much force. You just have to find your right center/core. also practicing of your kitchen floor if you have hard-wood flooring is really fun and good to do just make sure that your floor isn't too slippery because chipping a tooth costs lots of money!!! well good luck!!!

[Victoria Leigh]

Future Star, I'm not sure I understand what you mean by "...scooping the toes of the retiré leg across...". Can you clarify that, please?

[Guest Future Star]

sorry. I mean to cross the toes when you pick it up so that you can get on top of your standing leg. I guess you "scoop" them on the floor in front of your amkle bone and then straight up your shin to retire. Sorry about my last post I guess it wasn't clear. I hope this is better.

[Victoria Leigh]

Well, I think I know what you mean But actually one pushes down with that foot and then "snatches" it directly up to the retiré, since it needs to go very quickly, although yes, it would sort of "cross" to the front a bit.