How to Do a Double Turn

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

Completing a double-turn, also known as a double pirouette, is one of the most iconic maneuvers in dancing ballet. Completing two revolutions successfully, without getting dizzy or falling is a matter of getting the right positioning, putting the right momentum into your push-off step, and spotting properly.

Part 1
Part 1 of 2:

Getting Started

PDF download Download Article
  1. Before attempting any double-spins or pirouettes of any kind, it's important to get loosened up to avoid injury. [1] Warm up your neck, shoulders, arms, back, sides, and legs before dancing with a long stretching routine.
    • A nimble, loose neck will aid your equilibrium and balance when spotting and spinning. A loose torso will help you stay grounded and centered. Warmed up legs will provide the necessary support you need and reduce the possibility of cramping. The most important three body parts for a good turn are your neck, shoulders, and legs.
  2. This side of your body will be referred to as your "spin" foot, and the corresponding leg, arm, and side will also be referred to as the "spin" side. The other side of your body will be referred to as your "lift" side.
    Advertisement
  3. Begin standing with your spin foot in front of your lift foot, in a wide, balanced position, with most of your weight on your spin foot.
    • Place your spin arm at chest-height in front of you, with relaxed, bent elbow, so your spin forearm is parallel with your stomach.
    • Your lift arm should be extended directly out from your side, in line with your torso, not too far back or too far forward. The lift arm will provide the majority of your spinning power by swinging it in front of your body.
  4. This is your spot point. Keep your eyes fixed on this spot throughout the entire motion. [2]
    • Practice spotting by stepping slowly in a circular motion in one spot. Keep your eyes on one spot at eye level, on the wall or landscape directly in front of you. Keep your eyes there until your turning motion forces you to spin your head.
    • If your head is level, the spotting motion will keep you from becoming overly dizzy or losing balance. Even with proper spotting, a slight dizzy feeling can be expected during a double spin. Minimize this by keeping your neck and shoulders loose, and turning your head in a full circle as quickly as possible. The faster your body spins, the easier it is to spot properly.
    5. Advertisement
Part 2
Part 2 of 2:

Executing a Double-Turn

PDF download Download Article
  1. Bring your lift knee up straight and point your toe as you push off, bringing it to the notch at the top of the knee on your spinning leg. This should somewhat resemble the 'jackknife' dive position. [3]
  2. To carry your momentum around, you need to match the position of your spin arm, about chest-height, like you are holding a small beach ball to your stomach.
  3. Strengthen the upper thigh, ankle, and knee of your spin leg to create a rock solid pole on which to spin. Make a tiptoe shape with your spin foot, keeping your spin toes relaxed and responsive for fine tuning your balance during the spin.
    • Your spin point is the ball of your spin foot, which is the thick pad directly behind your toes. Do not spin directly on your toes. This is impossible and incredibly painful, no matter how convincing good ballet dancers look.
  4. Imagine all your weight forming a straight pole, from the ball of your spin foot up through your spin leg, through the center of your torso and out the top of your head. Just as a toy top has more of its weight at the top, so should your body.
    • It's important to think "up" instead of focusing on the spinning motion. Your momentum should work to carry you around, and focusing on staying as straight as possible and maintaining the proper form will help you balance.
  5. When you are heading on your second turn whip your head around, spotting twice. As you slow, return your lift leg to the ground and relax both arms out to your side at mid chest height to stop completely. Gently bring your feet back to the ground and let your momentum and weight slow you down naturally, coming to the ground.
    • The biggest difference between the double spin and the single spin is just the amount of force that you put on the turning step as you push off. It'll take some practice before you're able to do two, but stick with it and practice your spotting, and you'll get the hang of it eventually.
    6. Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    How do I stop myself from falling onto my heel?
    Community Answer
    Keep your abs tight and your chest up. Make sure your legs are straight as well.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 11 Helpful 64
  • Question
    I was only able to do it once on my dominant foot. But now I can do one and a half turns. Am I getting close?
    Community Answer
    Yes, you are getting very close. Keep practicing and you'll get both. Try keeping your back straight and stiff, and you'll probably get two turns soon.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 12 Helpful 41
  • Question
    How do you stop from getting dizzy?
    Community Answer
    You need to do spotting; if you don't spot, you'll most likely get dizzy. So before you spin, pick a wall or something that's right in front of you that you can turn your head back to each time you go around in your spin.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 12 Helpful 37
See more answers
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Tips

      • Always keep your upper body straight and strong.
        Thanks
        Helpful 35 Not Helpful 1
      • Instead of thinking about lifting up try to think about pushing the ball of your foot into the ground. This helps me with balance a lot. Still make sure you are getting up on your toes.
        Thanks
        Helpful 22 Not Helpful 4
      • Take a beginner's dance class. Jazz, ballet, or funk dancing is recommended. This will give you the basic physical tools you require to reliably spin on one foot.
        Thanks
        Helpful 19 Not Helpful 7
      Show More Tips
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      Warnings

      • This movement requires practice. Just like one learns to juggle two balls before juggling three, practice a single pirouette many times over. Then, once you have that, simply apply more upward thrust and power to get in that second spin. Spot twice.
        Thanks
        Helpful 37 Not Helpful 9
      Advertisement

      Things You'll Need

      • shoes with a slick bottom and flexible casing. Dance shoes highly recommended.
      • light clothing you can easily move in
      • a slick, even floor. In order of best to worst surfaces to spin on: hardwood floor, linoleum, cement, carpeted, tiled. The last two are downright nasty to spin on. However, carpet is good to start out with at the very beginning with socks. It's a slower turn and if you fall, not as painful.

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Do a Releve
      How to
      Do a Pirouette
      How to
      Improve Balance
      Are You Strong Enough for Pointe? An Expert-Backed Guide
      How to
      Do Ballet Fouette Turns
      How to
      Do a Plie in Ballet
      How to
      Learn Basic Ballet Moves
      How to
      Master Your Foot Arch for Ballet
      How to
      Increase Your Toe Point: Effective Exercises and Stretches
      How to
      Do & Improve Your Grand Jete in Ballet
      How to
      Dance En Pointe
      How to
      Stand En Pointe
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/how-to-warm-up-before-exercising/
      2. ↑ https://www.energetiksblog.com.au/blog/2017/6/7/dance-advice-the-art-of-pirouettes
      3. ↑ https://www.energetiksblog.com.au/blog/2017/6/7/dance-advice-the-art-of-pirouettes
      4. Videos provided by Live On Pointe

      About This Article

      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 162,036 times.

      Reader Success Stories

      • Isabel Carey

        Jan 11, 2019

        "This article helped me. I'm starting ballet lessons, and it helped me learn how to keep my back up and ..." more
      More reader stories Hide reader stories
      Share your story

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement