Leg height in attitude turns

[Blanche]

I tried a search on this topic, but came up empty, so I hope this is not redundant.

 

In class this week, we had a teacher (fairly new to the school) who insisted that in attitude and arabesque turns (en dedans) the elevated leg should be no higher than 45 degrees or at a height that absolutely did not displace the hips at all (like would be true in degage, for example). No one in the class (all adults with extensive previous training and at least some professional or collegiate performing experience) had been corrected on this point before. We were all using the maximum height that our rotation and strength would allow without a severe distortion of hip placement, so most were above 45 degrees...

 

Any thoughts/explanations/agreement/disagreement on the technique?

[appleblossom]

Are you doing a graded syllabus?

 

I know at intermediate level we are told (especially with grande rond de jamb) to keep it 45 and controlled.

[dancing_dentist]

I think what Blanche meant was pirouettes in attitudes and arabesques, right Blanche?

I think your teacher told you to lift your leg at only 45 degrees is to keep your body-hip-leg alignment in one straight line, in order to find your center of balance easily.

But if you can make sure to lock your center of balance when lifting your leg higher than 45 degrees, then why not?

I can lift my leg at (almost) 90 degrees for pirouette in attitude, but only 70 degrees in arabesque. More than that, I lose my balance everytime..

[Alysse]

Thanks so much for posting this. I have always wondered. Also, one other thing that can throw people off balance is the timing of the arms, leg, and shoulder movements. I will try different angles of leg height for attitude and arabesque piroettes, and get back with you tomorrow. But, my experiemtn will only be personal to me, you should try too!

[Victoria Leigh]

Pirouettes in an open position, as attitude, arabesque, and à la second, can be done at any height the choreographer wants them, BUT, the best balance is actually at 90 degrees. IF you have a 90 degree position, then you will have a better center of balance there when turnig. The extended leg really should not go above that, as it will look distorted. Lower is fine, if you cannot reach 90 and still be placed.

[Blanche]

the best balance is actually at 90 degrees. IF you have a 90 degree position, then you will have a better center of balance there when turnig. The extended leg really should not go above that, as it will look distorted. Lower is fine, if you cannot reach 90 and still be placed.

 

 

OK, this makes sense to me. I have always felt most stable in open pirouettes where my extension was at its maximum in attitude (where I've never really been able to maintain above 90 without distortion anyway), and at 90 in arabesque. I like the line visually as well. I did feel off balance trying to maintain the 45 degree height, but thought that maybe I was not holding my center as well as I should have been (which still was probably true, but I felt like my leg weighed about 300 pounds and was pulling me backwards).

[Hans]

When you hold your leg at full height, it forces you to engage the back muscles, which assists you in controlling the turn.