Inside pirouettes

[ballet24/7]

Ever since I've done ballet, I've had trouble with inside pirrouettes. I get them once in a while, about once a week (doubles) but I can't get clean doubles consistently and it's so frustrating (en pointe and on flat). They're just so difficult for me...and I can't seem to get up on my leg and hold the turn out successfully. Could anyone tell me any tips or specifics about inside pirrouettes...or the steps? By the way, my studio does not teach the developpe a la seconde first before the turn...we go straight up. Please help!

[Victoria Leigh]

An en dedans pirouette is really a bit more than one pirouette. It's a one and a quarter turn. So, a double is two and a quarter turns. Therefore, one needs slightly more impetus into the turn, and a very clear knowledge of where the turn is going, which means changing your head to spot where the turn ends, not where it starts. Make sure you know how to relevé to the supporting leg and get centered there, and then make sure that you are pushing forward and outward on the impetus and bringing your opposite side (meaning back muscles) strongly around the corner. Then keep it coming. The impetus is the push into the front leg on the "and" combined with opening the leading side and strongly bringing the working side around and up. The same thing would apply if the pirouette was done with a dégagé before the retiré or not. You HAVE to get yourself totally over the supporting leg and keep the working side coming up and around. Focus on where you want to go and don't come down until you get there!

 

PS - check the title - I fixed the spelling of pirouettes and en dedans for you!

[Mel Johnson]

Also, don't lose the turnout on the supporting leg and make sure that the shoulder on the side of the "working" leg doesn't drop.

[stefi913]

Should en dedans pirouette land en face or facing the corner? Or can it be both?

[Victoria Leigh]

They can finish anywhere the teacher or choreographer wants them to finish However, they do generally end in croisé.

[balletboyrhys]

hey. i used to have a lot of trouble with en dedans too. if you think of it more as a balance it helps a little. at least it did for me

rhys

[spaghetti]

How many of you send your leg through seconde before bringing it to retire on an en dedans? My teacher likes it that way but I find that a lot of other teachers like it to go straight to retire from fourth or fifth position. Does this have anything to do with the style (like vaganova and so on) or is it just what the teacher prefers?

[Guest TinyDancer1205]

I've had teachers ask for both ways spaghetti. I have one teacher who was trained in russia at the Vaganova Academy and she always has us go through a la seconde first. My school has predominately vaganova-based teaching, but i've had teachers who weren't trained in the russian style who have us go straight up

[Victoria Leigh]

An advanced dancer really needs to be able to do both ways. I teach both in my upper Int. and Adv. levels.

[les_sylphides_]

I found that if I think of going straight up and really really pulling up and being on top of my supporting leg, then my en dedans pirouettes are always perfectly on balance. When you releve up from fourth, do not lose your turnout in an attempt to get your momentum started (happened to me), make sure your form is perfect, and your pirouette will be too. really concentrate on making it a perfect releve retire. then add the momentum as a second thought.

[vrsfanatic]

...Does this have anything to do with the style (like vaganova and so on) or is it just what the teacher prefers?

 

In the Vaganova method, both ways of studying pirouette en dedans are clearly taught and used. At first the study of pirouette en dedans, lifting straight to passe and then in later years with the demi rond to 45 or 90 degrees to the side.