| Tips for Turn Technique The Basic Elements by Cindy Smith As forms of dance vary, so do the types and styles of turns. One thing, however, remains constant, and that is the basic technique elements of the turn and how to execute it. Check out this article on turn technique from the Co. Dance web site! The body needs to move as one unit, not in pieces. Body placement is of utmost importance. Your dancer's square (square formed from shoulder to hip to hip to shoulder) must always be in alignment, with your rib cage pressing together, sternum open, shoulders pressed down and arms properly placed (not thrown) for each and every turn. Here are some examples of basic elements in what I feel is a good turn. Please note as forms of dance vary so does the way a turn may look and be executed. These are just one example of how to properly execute these turns. Hint for arms on turns – In any turn you want to use centrifugal force. You want to bring your arms into the center of your body, you don't want to push them around and make your center in front of your body. Hint for a better releve in turns – You want to be up as high on the ball of your foot as you can. Use the area just behind your toes as a platform. Spread your weight equally among this area as not to be forward or back on your releve. All elements given are for turns on the right side - just reverse it for the left. CHAINE TURN Definition: Turns that are linked together; chain. Preparation tendu devant. Turn hips to direction you are turning as feet move into a fourth position (not very wide - chaines should not be used for large moving steps). Make sure as you take this first movement of the turn that the left side of the body moves with you so that the ribs stay together. Pull the arms into first position (left should meet right) as you are stepping left and rotating the hips completely around for one turn. Continue the process for as many turns as you want. Use your head to spot. Keep your eyes focused on one spot in the direction you are turning. As you execute the turn leave the head there until the last moment when you have to whip it around to complete the turn. Whip it into exactly the same spot you started the head in to keep you in a straight line. You should be in a high releve throughout the turn, pulled up through the hips and thighs with your hips always as your guide for placement. In using the arms please note they should come from the back - not be a separate unit. PIQUE TURN Definition: To prick. One of the most important concepts on this turn is to reach way out onto a straight leg into releve. As you turn, the hips need to push to center yourself. Preparation tendu devant. Plie the left leg and carry the right leg to a la second en la air. Push off the supporting leg and reach the right leg and hips way out into fourth position to the direction you are turning. You want to feel a big push up and out through your derriere. As this push happens the left leg comes into turn out passe while the left arm pulls in to the right into first (as in chaine) and make one or more rotations to the right. To finish the turn, bring the passe leg down behind into fifth position and begin the process again. Spot as you would a chaine. JAZZ PIROUETTE Definition: Pirouette means turn on one foot. Pirouettes can be done from many different preparations and with the working leg in many different positions. This will be an example of an outside pirouette in passe. Preparation parallel first. Tendu a la second with arms pushing to strong second. Carry the right leg back into a fourth position plie arms follow. Body should be straight up and down with the left leg into the ground and the right heel lifted. Make sure your dancer's square is in proper position with hips center and upper body center to forward with those ribs in. All at one time lift to releve on the left leg with the right leg pulling into a high passe turning the body one or more rotations to the right. Arms pull into first as in a chaine or pique. To finish the turn, end in plie parallel first. The two biggest technical mistakes I see beginning dancers make in a pirouette turn is that they try and whip their arms to give them momentum. This will just pull the dancer off balance. All the arms need to due is pull together and with proper position and spotting and a lot of practice the single turns will turn into doubles and triples etc. The second mistake I see is the fact that the left heel begins the turn before the right leg even leaves to come into passe. This makes the pirouette choppy and off balance. All movement needs to happen simultaneously to make the turn work. Let your arms come from the back and spot as you would in the other turns. Practice hitting spots on specific counts and this will clean up the pirouette technique even more. Once you master a passe pirouette, try it again with the working leg in coupe or cou de pied (neck of the foot) or even attitude. These are all pirouettes just in different positions. Pirouette a la second Begin in fourth position plie, body front, and arms in third. Hips make one rotation in plie as right leg moves into second position at 90º releve (beginners may want to start at 45º). As you spot to return to the front, plie then releve up again (make sure to keep the right leg level and steady. You may do singles or more before you take the plie again. You need to have a good spot and level shoulder and head. Arms can vary, but the most simple is to open second and pull into first. Try and finish turn segment with a passe pirouette and land. Fouette Turn Definition: A continuous turn on one leg with the other leg whipping around in rond de jambe. Begin in fourth position plie, body front, arms third. Pull up into releve as right foot beats passe behind then front and then extends croise devant (across the body). The beats are very quick you barely see them, but they are there. Open to second and pull back into beat back front passe and extent croise devant again. When you extend croise you should be in plie then releve as moving to second to help you get around. Arms open to second as you releve and close into first on the rotation. Using a pencil or a very light (one pound) weight you can switch hands as you open and close from second to first. This will help the strength and look of the arms. Double pirouettes passe can be done in between the plies and a nice finish would also be a double pirouette. Pirouette Attitude Begin wide fourth position croise devant amrs in third right leg plie. Lift the left leg into attitude and pirouette on the right leg high releve with the arms to fifth positon. Take a single or a double and when finished slide through to fourth on the other side and turn side two. Pirouette Arabesque The same turn as above except the left leg moves into arabesque and the arms press down to fourth arabesque Cindy Smith is the owner and an instructor at Dancemoves School of Dance and a Dance and Education Instructor at the University of Wisconsin, Platteville. |