How to Do a Pirouette Turn

 

As a dancer, I often feel weightless, like I can fly, like I can do anything, which is why dancers are so captivating on stage. Especially when I’m turning, I feel this aliveness and adrenaline through my body. It is a magical feeling that I would want everyone in the audience to experience as well, which is why I’m going to illustrate with three simple steps, how to do a simple pirouette turn. 


  1. Prep and plié  

To begin, plant your feet in a parallel fourth position. To get to fourth position, you can think of putting your feet right next to each other so they are parallel and touching, and then stepping one foot about a foot in front of the other (for a right turn step your left foot in front and for a left turn step your right foot in front). Now that you’re in a parallel fourth position, bend your knees so that your back knee is almost touching the floor and extend your arm on the same side as your back leg to the front (parallel to the ground) and the arm on the same side as your front leg to the side (also parallel to the ground). This is your deep plié in your prep. 


  1. Relevé and passé 

Next, lift your back foot up and place it so it is touching the inside of your other knee and create a triangle so your thigh is parallel to the ground. This is your passé. Practice this motion of picking up your leg a few times and once you’ve got it down, try lifting your bottom heel and going on your tiptoes at the same time that your leg comes off the ground. Practice balancing in relevé with your passé connected to your knee for a few seconds at a time. 


  1. Now turn!

Finally, once you’ve mastered that, try pushing off that back foot once it comes off the ground and bringing your arms into a circle (first position) to help you turn around. When you turn, spot something at your eye level and try to keep your eyes on it for as long as you can every time your head whips around. The snap of your arms and head really helps you complete more turns and once you get the hang of it, you’ll be doing triples and quads!


Remember, practice makes perfect so if you want to do the perfect pirouette turn, keep practicing! In no time at all, you’ll be looking like the dancers you see on stage and feeling the same freedom and grace we feel. 





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