The pirouette is one of the main movements of the dance. By learning the right position and the proper technique to achieve it, beginners can perform it like real experts.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Learn the Correct Posture
Step 1. Wear the right shoes
Ballet, jazz and demi pointe shoes are all ideal for practicing pirouettes. You need footwear that allows you to perform large movements and supports you. Foot liners work just as well, like those from Capezio, because they cover and support the forefoot. They are easy to put on and are ideal for quick rehearsals.
Also, you must practice the pirouettes in a safe place, free from sharp objects or obstacles. It is always preferable to rehearse in a dance school, under surveillance
Step 2. Before doing the pirouette, practice the retiré position
Before starting to turn, the retiré should be perfect, so it is important to learn to place the tip of the foot correctly and to bend the knee properly.
Place your toe in the hollow on the upper front of the knee, being careful not to go past the foot of the leg. To understand if the position is correct, you should feel support under the thigh
Step 3. Keep your ribs in and your shoulders back
The shoulders should lie directly in line with the hips. Straighten the supporting leg to keep the relevé as high as possible, imagine reaching towards the sky and downwards.
Step 4. Check your hips
Make sure they are not leaning back, or in the wrong position. Imagine the hips are a bowl containing fruit. Would the content fall out? A tilted pelvis can often cause poor movement, resulting in knee and back problems.
Make sure you start with a plie, but don't stop in this position for too long, as you will lose momentum and it will be difficult to pirouette
Step 5. Place your feet in the fourth position
If you pirouette to the right, your left foot will be in the front position, with your weight evenly distributed between your feet, so that you can push yourself onto your back.
Step 6. Position your arms
Keep your right arm curved in front of you. The palm should be in a frontal position in front of the body, with the elbow slightly curved to the side. The arms should be rounded and away from the body, as if you are holding a beach ball. The fingers should be approximately level with the bottom of the rib cage. Keep your shoulders back.
Keep your other arm extended at your side, with your palm facing forward and slightly below your shoulder. Keep your elbow in front of your body
Method 2 of 2: Performing the Pirouette
Step 1. Bend your knees and push yourself up with the rear leg
You should switch to the retiré position with relevé. At the same time, close the left arm in 1st position, accompanying it with the left side of the back.
While doing the pirouette, make sure you keep your hips aligned with your shoulders, you shouldn't be hunched over. This guarantees you a better balance
Step 2. Stitch your retiré foot well
As you rotate, imagine making the retiré position higher. This should also keep you centered and balanced. Make sure your foot continues to touch your leg.
Keep the supporting leg straight, and don't let your feet take on the shape of a scythe, otherwise your ankle will sag and you will lose balance. Also, remember to look at a fixed point, so you don't get dizzy. If you can't do a single pirouette, don't try to do two or three in a row
Step 3. Focus on making an upward movement, don't think about the turn
Imagine someone pulling you up with a thread attached to the top of your head. When you learn this trick, the ride will come naturally to you. Focusing too much on the rotation causes inexperienced dancers to lean slightly, losing balance. Instead, focus on lifting and you will learn to manage the mechanics of this movement.
Step 4. Set a point during the round
As you rotate, look at a fixed point on the wall at eye level; keep it throughout the rotation. You will have to spin your head to find it on each lap. This is called holding a fixed point.
Stop and resume the fourth position. Your feet should be in the same position they were in when you started
Step 5. Modulate the force by the desired number of rotations
Before trying multiple laps, try to balance yourself at the end of each lap before landing. More force generally equates to more rotations, but it's also a matter of coordination. Overdoing it with force will cause you to skid in the room and you will lose control. Similarly, if it is small, you will stop halfway and fall to the ground. With experience you will understand how much energy to use, soon you will be able to notice if you are using too much or not enough.
For the first few rehearsals, try a single pirouette to get your body used to the sensation and movement. It takes some time to get to a double, triple or quadruple pirouette. You could also try starting with a quarter turn or half turn. If you immediately try double or triple pirouettes, you will be disappointed
Step 6. Be consistent
Remember that all dancers have fallen at least once during a pirouette. Practice makes the teacher. It doesn't take long to learn how to do it. Once you get used to it, it will feel quite natural to you.
Advice
- Make sure the positions are correct. If they are not, you cannot even perform a pirouette. Imagine going up with the relevé and learning to look at a fixed point to be able to do at least one.
- Keep your torso compact for balance.
- Pirouettes require some balance. Just lean slightly in any direction to fall. Abs and sit-ups can help you strengthen this part of the body.
- To make the body look beautiful and supported, it is important to keep it taut.
- Keep the supporting knee straight and straight. This will also help you support yourself.
- Pubertal growth spurts tend to decrease balance, because you grow and partly lose your ability to pirouette. Do not despair: you will recover it with a sense of balance.
- Stand in relevé (tiptoe), not with your feet flat and completely flat on the ground. Remember to lift yourself up.
- Above all, don't give up.
- Practice with the music to get the rhythm right.
- Remember to keep your knees straight so that you don't fall over as you pirouette.
- Make sure the foot is below the knee, in the front position.
- Make sure your arms are in the right position, first one. This will help you with balance.
