meghan-dancer Posted January 1, 2009 Report Share Posted January 1, 2009 Unfortunately my pirouettes aren't so well. I just started ballet so I am not so well at it. I only get half way round, without losing my balance or just am not fast enough. And if I do get it I am always concentrating on my energy and what to do next, and not concentrating on spotting on the wall so I won't get dizzy. Can anyone give me any tips to improve my pirouettes? I always practice at home but it doesn't get any better. Help!! Quote Link to comment
Administrators Victoria Leigh Posted January 1, 2009 Administrators Report Share Posted January 1, 2009 Meghan, you said you just started ballet, so I really think it might be too soon to be even thinking about pirouettes! How long have you been taking classes? How many classes a week do you have? Pirouettes are not given to beginners, as it really takes quite a long time to learn all the technique that leads up to being able to execute them correctly. Could you maybe clarify your training situation a bit more? That would help us to help you. Quote Link to comment
meghan-dancer Posted January 2, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2009 I've been doing ballet for 3 months... Quote Link to comment
Administrators Victoria Leigh Posted January 2, 2009 Administrators Report Share Posted January 2, 2009 Once a week? Twice a week? Every day? How long are the classes? Unless you are in a program where you have several hours of class every day, 6 days a week, and you have exceptional facility for ballet and have progressed quite amazingly well, you should not be doing pirouettes in 3 months. Even with the above circumstances, it would be unlikely that you would be turning, although perhaps working on the preparations, like the relevé into the turning position. You have to be aligned and your weight placed correctly in the preparatory position. You have to find your center on that relevé, have the strength in all the important muscles to maintain it, and know where and how to rotate the position and make the foot look good. Then there is the port de bras to work on, and of course spotting. All of these things have to happen before one begins to turn. Quote Link to comment
meghan-dancer Posted January 2, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2009 Well I go to ballet once a week for an hour and thats it. I am in a class with kids my age who have like 1, 2 or 3 experience so thats probably why I have to do pirouettes. Quote Link to comment
Jess :) Posted January 2, 2009 Report Share Posted January 2, 2009 Hi, I am fourteen and live in christchurch New Zealand My problem is similar to this. However I have been doing ballet since I was nine. ( Late starter I know!) I am on pointe, for years now, and got to ballet 4-5 days per week and do 2-3 classes each day. ( Classes are 1 and a half- two hours long) Just letting you know, what my circumstance is! And I am finding it extremly difficult to do any more than a triple turn.. I am not sure exactly what is I am doing.. or prehaps what it is that I'm not doing! Any ideas? I would really apprecite any help! Thanks! Quote Link to comment
Laurendancer Posted January 4, 2009 Report Share Posted January 4, 2009 I have the same problem! I have been dancing for about ten years ((this is the eleventh)). But the story is I, & my classmates were never taught how to do pirouettes properly. As a result when we received a new teacher she whipped us into shape concerning our turns. I can only do two clean pirouettes and three on a good day and when I do four I literally kneel down and pray.(hope I don't get kicked off for that) I've watched videos and even read directions on pirouettes. Maybe I'm just not built for them. Quote Link to comment
Clara 76 Posted January 4, 2009 Report Share Posted January 4, 2009 Welcome to Ballet Talk for Dancers, Laurendancer If you can execute 2 clean pirouettes, then that is good!! It is far better to have clean technique than it is to just get through turns.... Quote Link to comment
Jess :) Posted January 4, 2009 Report Share Posted January 4, 2009 Laurendancer, It's annoying isn't it! When you can do a double turn, neatly and well. But when you want to move on, and try something a little bit harder- it just doesn't work! I think the only solution to this problem is to practice! And to analyse what you are doing- to see if you have a funny habit that limits your turning ability! That is what I have been doing at least- and it seems to kinda work! Quote Link to comment
meghan-dancer Posted January 4, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2009 I hope I'm not being rude but does someone have any advice for me? Quote Link to comment
Mel Johnson Posted January 4, 2009 Report Share Posted January 4, 2009 Well, not to try to repeat needlessly, but at three months of training, you shouldn't be doing pirouettes at all! You should be doing the preparation, then the retiré, but no turn yet! With only one class, one hour per week, doing turns is going to take a long, long time. Quote Link to comment
Administrators Victoria Leigh Posted January 5, 2009 Administrators Report Share Posted January 5, 2009 And Meghan, if you really want to dance, and to learn to dance correctly, then I think you need to find a school that will put you in a class where they are teaching you, not expecting you to just do what others with much more training are doing. You will also need a lot more than one hour a week. Quote Link to comment
meghan-dancer Posted January 5, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 5, 2009 Okay well thanks anyway. There really isn't any ballet schools that would because all of them are just way to expensive and my fam is in a lot of debt right now so I am probably just stuck with the one I got Quote Link to comment
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