Champagne moment!!!

[Chinafish]

I did my first ever double pirouette today!!

 

and it was in class as well, phew~~

 

It was an en dedans, the teacher asked us to just try and do a double, and I did it!!

 

Couldn't spot though.....

 

But at least my body managed to turn twice before I came down. Yay!!!!!!

 

Woohoo~~~ (I'm still high on that... hehehe.... )

 

Cheers,

Fish

[Guest Aurelie]

Congrats. I remember when I did my first double, it's a great feeling.

Aurelie

[dancing_dentist]

Congrats.          I remember when I did my first double, it's a great feeling.

Aurelie

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Me too, like it was yesterday.

Congratulations, fish! Keep on practising. You might want to learn to spot though, cause it's very important.

My first double was en dehors, prepared from 4th en demiplie. My teacher took a long time correcting my preparation, and when she said go, I just went, and did it well. It was wonderful. But succeeding one pirouette doesn't guarantee the success of the next. It took me years until I can make sure I won't fail my doubles.

It's so frustrating that every after one or two-week holiday, my pirouettes all go up in a smoke, it always takes me at least two classes to return my pirouettes.

Now there's this triple on pointe I need to work on..

[Tara7038]

That's great turns are always a bit hit miss with me. I have recently lost quite a weight. I then found I need less force to turn. Then at easter I had laser treatment on my eye. Having worn contacts for the last 20 years so now my spotting needs sorting out.

 

Tara

[dianec]

Congratulations!!!!! I manage doubles about half the time. But the best thing of all about having done one is that now you know you can do them....lots more doubles to look forward to!

[Mr Robin]

Way to go, Fish! After three years I still have enough trouble with clean singles, never mind doubles...

[lampwick]

Awesome job, Chinafish. Turns can be so much fun once you realize all you have to do is stay up!

 

I finally hit all my double attitude turns en dehors today. It totally made my day. They're a real pain in the you-know-what to get. I hope it wasn't a fluke.

 

My arabesque turn en dedans looks like it's going to be the bane of my existence. Those are truly impossible if your body weight goes back. Darn hyperextended knees...

[Chinafish]

Hm....

 

That was more that 2 months ago and since then I haven't been able to do any doubles...

 

Ah well, these things take time

 

I do try to practise if I ever get a moment alone Fingers crossed!

 

Cheers,

Fish

[Mr Robin]

Didn't notice that was an old post... Still - I wouldn't feel bad if you've not pulled it off again since. You've been dancing less than a year, haven't you? I can't remember when I managed my first shaky single, but it was well into my second year I think... A double in your first year's great!

[ami1436]

I finally hit all my double attitude turns en dehors today. It totally made my day. They're a real pain in the you-know-what to get. I hope it wasn't a fluke.

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I hate this turn. In fact, I dislike attempting it so much that I can't even find coherent words to explain everything I dislike about it!

[dancing_dentist]

I finally hit all my double attitude turns en dehors today. It totally made my day. They're a real pain in the you-know-what to get. I hope it wasn't a fluke.

 

My arabesque turn en dedans looks like it's going to be the bane of my existence. Those are truly impossible if your body weight goes back. Darn hyperextended knees...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

How do you do that frustrating double en dehors in attitude??? I can do en dedans quite okay (well, at least 3 times out of 5), but en dehors seems simply undoable! How do you do it?

As for en arabesque, it's true, it's totally impossible if your body weight goes back, and that what's always happen. I always bear in mind to bring my body forward (so that it will stay in the center, because I tend to go backward), but after a single turn, my body goes backward again. I can never do a proper double...

[ami1436]

You should tell us! Isn't it on the ADV II syllabus?

[dancing_dentist]

You should tell us!  Isn't it on the ADV II syllabus?

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yes it is..

didn't do it well during the exam..

please.. will someone tell me how to do it right..?

[Chinafish]

You've been dancing less than a year, haven't you? I can't remember when I managed my first shaky single, but it was well into my second year I think... A double in your first year's great!

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Yeah I started in August last year.

 

I still can't manage a clean single - I think I'm getting better but it feels like I can never land gracefully. I nearly fell right on my side today in class doing en dehor from fifth....

 

The one I accidentally did in class was en dedan from lunge to the left. I did manage another one when I was practising at my brother's living room - That was an en dehor from fourth (or fifth? can't remember) It was one of those "Did I just do that??!!" moments. Obviously I haven't been able to repeat any of them since! Gggrrrr.....

 

Can't comment on attutide en dehor or arabesque turns - Haven't even tried them yet! And I'll stop myself from trying now, or it's a battle between me and my dining table - Who's gonna break?

 

Cheers,

Fish

[lampwick]

For the attitude turn en dehors;

 

I take it from a lunge prep with one arm straight in front, the other side, low and a bit back (like arabesque arms). Like a regular Balanchine prep for en dehors pirouette. I'm taught to initiate the turn just like a regular pirouette, except the foot is in back, behind the knee. You very quickly cross the foot back into attitude as you continue to lift it.

 

I've mostly seen peopole lift straight into attitude, but I've seen it this way as well, and it seems to get you on your leg a little easier at first. Almost practice them like you're doing a regular pirouette, but the foot is in back. Once youre a bit underway (1/4 or 1/2 a turn), lift it into attitude, adjust the body weight forward, and try to not freak out. Keeping the shoulder very open and square is important.

 

The important thing is to CROSS that side arm sharply into the en haut position so you bring that side of the back around. I lift the other arm from the elbow pretty quickly and concentrate on keeping the upper back open and the weight FORWARD. That keeps the working leg side nice and forward too, so the leg's got room.

 

Before I do any turn, I drop my elbows to remind myself to lift from them. It works!

 

These are really hard, and I'm not very good at explaining things, so hopefully it'll help. I'm not a bad turner, but I've just started to be able to hang onto these this week, and will probably lose this ability again. Turns are frustrating that way.

 

I actually have to do these kind of slow for now or I throw my weight straight back. I'd go for the single and just try to stay up. The double will happen if you don't freak out. That's how I got my double regular pirouettes too. Just do the single, but stay up and don't worry about finishing it for the time being. Just get used to the feeling of maintaining balance by "growing".