Q&A for How to Do a Pirouette

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  • Question
    How can I improve my pirouette?
    Geraldine Grace Johns
    Professional Ballerina & Ballet Instructor
    Geraldine Grace Johns is a Professional Ballerina and the Owner of Grace Ballet in New York and Los Angeles. Geraldine toured through New Zealand, Australia, Japan, and Korea as Jammes in Ken Hill's Original Phantom of the Opera. She has studied with the Royal Academy of Dance in London to become a teacher and taught for the Kudo School of Ballet in Yokohama. Geraldine also ran her own Royal Academy of Dance School in New Zealand before studying at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York City. Geraldine was a guest coach and Master Class teacher in Toronto for the Canadian Royal Academy of Dance's Dance Challenge in 2018, 2019, and 2020. She was also a guest coach and Master Class teacher for the USA Royal Academy of Dance Challenge in Long Beach, California in 2019 and 2020. Grace Ballet Los Angeles has won recognition as one of 13 Best Ballet Schools in Los Angeles since opening her school. Geraldine is a contract Practical Teaching Supervisor for the Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies for the Royal Academy of Dance.
    Professional Ballerina & Ballet Instructor
    Expert Answer
    It's really important to use your spotting. You must have a really secure spotting head, as your head is the heaviest part of your body. If your head is slightly tilted, or you're not looking in the direction you want to end up, you're going to have complications.
  • Question
    How do I turn without getting dizzy?
    Fantasticforever
    Community Answer
    In order to turn without getting dizzy, you must spot something. What this means is that you look at your eyes in the mirror or spot something in front of you with your eyes and hold it there as long as you can and then snap your head around.
  • Question
    How can I perform multiple pirouettes?
    Community Answer
    To perform multiple pirouettes, you need to practice. Start with one pirouette, and keep doing it until you do it perfectly. Once you have the technique down, you should be able to do two or even three in a row. Remember to spot and to keep everything tight; this will help with balance.
  • Question
    How do I stay in one spot?
    Community Answer
    When you begin your pirouette, you should push down through the floor in order to releve. You shouldn't be jumping up, but you should still push against the floor. That way, you will stay in one spot, and you won't travel.
  • Question
    Why might this not work for me?
    Community Answer
    Pirouettes take practice. Not everyone completes one on their first try. Work on finding your balance and try again. With enough practice, you'll be able to do one.
  • Question
    My feet are turned in rather than out. If I turn with my feet out, I lose my balance. What can I do to master it?
    Community Answer
    Try using a ballet barre (or a high cabinet, etc.). Hold onto it and turn out, soon enough your feet will become more balanced.
  • Question
    Do I need certain shoes to practice pirouettes or could I do them barefoot?
    Community Answer
    You can do them barefooted, however to stop causing blistering, any other shoes are appropriate.
  • Question
    Is it possible to be able to do pirouettes in regular street shoes?
    Community Answer
    Yes, it is possible to do pirouettes in some street shoes (e.g. trainers). However, it is much more difficult to do multiple turns and you are more likely to fall.
  • Question
    I get lightheaded while turning. What am I doing wrong?
    Community Answer
    You might not be spotting correctly. Practice spotting then add it to the steps you need to do before turning.
  • Question
    How do I perform a contemporary pirouette?
    Community Answer
    A contemporary pirouette is similar to this one. Practice this one until it is perfect, then turn with your leg out. That's the main part of a contemporary pirouette!
  • Question
    How do I do a pirouette if I don't dance en pointe?
    ReynaSPQR
    Community Answer
    You don't have to be on pointe to do a pirouette. You just turn on demi-pointe.
  • Question
    I do slightly better when I don't spot. Do I still need to spot?
    ReynaSPQR
    Community Answer
    If you want it to look clean and be able to do multiples correctly, then yes.
  • Question
    Whenever I do this I can never stay up, even though I pull upward and stay in one spot. It just never works for me. What can I do?
    DreamingDancer
    Community Answer
    Practice balancing in retire. The longer you can hold a retire balance, the better you will be able to stay up while doing a pirouette.
  • Question
    This really helped, but how can I make them absolutely flawless?
    DreamingDancer
    Community Answer
    Practice makes perfect! Just remember everything: your plie, you arms, your posture, your turnout, your balance, your demi pointe, your foot placement. Point your toes, spot, and land gracefully. You'll do great!
  • Question
    How do I keep my weight at my center?
    Community Answer
    Pretend there's an imaginary line going through the center of your body, from your feet all the way to the top of your head. Then, pretend that the string is pulling upward.
  • Question
    Does I need flexibility to do a pirouette?
    Didi804
    Community Answer
    No, you don’t necessarily need flexibility to do a pirouette. You just need to be able to turn out and get your foot up to your knee, as well as follow the techniques shown above.
  • Question
    Why am I sometimes out of breath after doing pirouettes?
    Community Answer
    This can be because when you are doing pirouettes you hold your belly in and do not breathe properly.
  • Question
    Can I do it in the garden?
    Community Answer
    The grass and/or soil will create friction and make it harder, so it's best not to.
  • Question
    I'm used to left split, but I'm a right turner. Is there something wrong with me?
    Community Answer
    No. Just because you are more flexible with your left leg doesn't mean that leg has to be more powerful. What's important to pirouettes is leg power and control.
  • Question
    Do I have to be on pointe to do one?
    Community Answer
    No.
  • Question
    How can I improve my spot and balance?
    Community Answer
    Try balancing on the position as long as you can. For spotting, try walking around in a circle with your eyes on one thing the whole time. When you are at the end of where you can see the object, snap your head back around.
  • Question
    How do I land without losing my balance?
    Community Answer
    Once you have done your final turn, you want to really pull up on the base leg as much as you can, until you can land in plie (bent knees). Spotting can also help, which is focusing on one spot and whipping your head around to try and look at that spot the entire time you are turning.
  • Question
    What if I don't have the proper footwear?
    Community Answer
    You can get socks and cover half of your foot with them. It helps with turning, and you're less likely to fall this way.
  • Question
    Does it matter where my foot is positioned on my leg?
    Community Answer
    Yes, it does. It is very important to place your foot in the right spot. Try and connect your foot to the side of your knee.
  • Question
    What if I can't spin for long enough?
    DreamingDancer
    Community Answer
    Usually if you cant make it all the way through your pirouette, it's because you are not plieing deep enough. Your plie is what gives you the thrust that helps your body to turn, so try to make your plie deeper.
  • Question
    How do I keep my turnout while doing a pirouette? I always seem to end up in parallel while turning.
    Athomask6
    Community Answer
    Focus more on turning out from the hip socket rather than from your ankle or foot. Practice that sensation through the duration of your pirouette, and it should become habit after a few months.
  • Question
    How do I keep myself balanced during a pirouette.
    Community Answer
    To keep balanced, spread your weight out throughout your body.
  • Question
    How do I persuade my dad to get me some ballet shoes?
    Community Answer
    Tell him how important ballet is to you and that you need the proper supplies if you're going to succeed at it. Offer to do extra chores or find some way to help pay for them, like babysitting or making and selling crafts.
  • Question
    Should my foot be en pointe while doing this?
    Community Answer
    It is not required, no. Usually you do it on releve or "demi-pointe" as it is sometimes called.
  • Question
    Do I have to go en pointe to do a pirouette?
    Community Answer
    No, you do not need to go en pointe to do a pirouette.
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