That was really helpful. I find pirouettes difficult and have watched many videos. They have all helped me a lot. Yes I am interested in piqué turns. Thank you Natalie you are very kind!!!!
Thank you for explaining ballet techinques in your detailed way! It helps a lot.. espacially now when (my) studios are closed - I miss the weekly training together with the other ballet loving students.. your videos do help!!
Thank you! It surprised me that the en dedans pirouette actually lands in the front! My teacher wants me to practice en dehors first, the video is very helpful! I think I'm still struggling with spotting and getting dizzy a lot and didn't know that the spotting exercise is still done a lot and from home. That should definitely help to get my brain more used to it than drifting off. Thank you!
Hi David, yes, usually with pirouettes the leg in passé/retiré comes to the front of the knee during the turn but can land either in front or behind, depending on what follows. However for simple pirouette exercises usually en dehors closes behind and en dedans closes in front. Piqué en dedans is usually the exception to the rule, where the leg stays behind the knee and closes behind. Best of luck with your turns! :)
Natalie, you give here, I think, a good overview of most of the main features of spinning. I would rate your instructing (pedagogy) shown here as a C+ or B-. Like any and every correction offered in ballet, there’s always room for improvement and refinement and mastery. The same is true for teaching a neuro-muscular motor skill, or athletic skill (dance move, ballet technique). The thing about most examples of RU-vid ballet coaching videos I’ve noticed, is that simply breaking down, describing and demonstrating the fundamental aspects or elements of any technique, while certainly useful, helpful and necessary, are not in and of themselves themselves sufficient or complete to guiding beginners towards achieving mastery. Just being able to do and demonstrate some skill well is not necessarily the same as being able to efficiently and effectively coach others. Conversely, some of the best teachers of technique are not necessarily the greatest performers (e.g. they can do grear singles and doubles but not triple pirouettes.) A fundamental, key, crucial aspect that is missing from this ‘technique how to’ is how to impart spin, which in physics is called torque, in order to generate angular momentum or dynamic turning energy. Piros are bodies in motion in rotation, not in a linear travelling route. You do mention (angular or rotational) momentum but don’t address how to generate same while maintaining balance 360 degrees round about, which is the essence or crux of this basic move of ballet on demi pointe or on full pointe. Some dancers’ brains and muscles can generate their torque naturally without having to consciously think about it, while others learners really struggle with this key necessity. So if you can describe how dancers can impart torque or twist or corkscrew energy (generate spin) without falling off balance, that would raise this video to a B or B+ in terms of educational effectiveness in my estimation. Talk about core engagement and maintaining a strong, lifted back, torso and head (placement) and describe what it feels like when done properly and correctly (because it is something that cannot be visually seen or observed by watching; it is a felt sensation). Give cues about finding one’s axis (getting on one’s leg), the point around which the body spins; describe what it feels like to get on one’s (supporting). To raise the instruction to an A, you can offer drills and exercises for developing and strengthening component elements (like you do for spotting), such as cross training strength building routines for building strength, power and endurance for rising up on to demi pointe into retiré and holding it. Because without adequate muscle strength pre-conditioning it’s not possible to turn, the same as for going on full pointe: there must be correct and proper muscular preparation. For an A+ rating, suggesting good progressions for mastering elements and blending the separate components into a cohesive, synergystic and elegant whole will be fantastic. Eg. first learning to execute a 1/4 or 90 degree turn correctly and ending in retiré before lowering the gesture limb. Then learning to do a 1/2 spin or 180; then a 3/4 or 270, and then a complete single rotation or 360 spin. All the while developing the correct instinct and timing for spotting. Because if you can’t successfully do a 180, you’re going to fall out of the turn so will never be able to do a clean 360, or 720/double. So pathways for building up competencies are especially effective signs of good instruction and coaching.
So basically you want my video to be longer and more in depth. You want RU-vid videos to provide the same value as when we are teaching in a ballet studio. I think if that is your wish, you will continually be disappointed with RU-vid videos which are designed to be shorter and more digestible and easily accessible. ☺️
Does anyone here go through a "unable to pirouette" phase? I haven't been taking breaks from lessons (twice a week) but suddenly i am unable to turn on my right leg for 2 consecutive practices. I used to do doubles but now i can't even finish a single without hopping through. I still can hold my balance on a retiré though. What's happening? Any advice is appreciated! 💟💟
Absolutely! I think we all have bad days. Some days I turn better to one side than the other. My advice is don't worry too much about it. Go back to thinking about the basic mechanics of the pirouette - clean preparation, proper coordination etc. On those days I prefer to do clean singles than messy doubles but it depends on each person :)
I really want to try out for the dance team next year so I’m watching this but quick question do u need a special floor and shoe I’m a noob at this pls reply
no. if you can turn without any hassle, tile works or even really thin carpet. you can even bunch a sock under your arch, and use that to practice, if you dont have a jazz, contemporary, lyrical or ballet shoe, but those work great
The soles of ballet shoes are designed to help you spin better and with more control so I think they are a great idea and ideally the floor will be linoleum or wood. But if you just want to practice spinning you can do it wherever you have a space and in socks (but be more careful as socks can be very slippy). Good luck for your dance team tryout! :)
Hi Natalie, great tutorial. I'm a tap dancer, trying to improve my spins. Can you advise where the force or implulse comes from to initiate and continue the spin? It appears to be from the arm moving to second position. Is that right? Thanks!
It come a little from the arm to second but more from closing the other arm into first bringing the torso with you and opening the knee of the leg in retiré as well as from the force out of the demi plié. For all these forces to work in unison the body has to move as one which is why core strength and engaging the flutes is so important 🤗
@@NatalieDanzaBallet Thank you kind lady! This should help me. Oh and I will have to remember to engage my flutes, erh, uh, I mean glutes. Ha, ha. Thanks again.
I’m just starting ballet and I’m a little confused about which leg is in front and which way I should turn, like is it personal or there’s a strict way to do it? Like if I’m turning on my left foot do I have to turn right and the other way around? It’s just sooo confusing help
It is confusing! All directions are correct but it depends which turn is in the exercise. This video explains it! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Ob1brsunN28.html
