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Controlled Pirouettes
So I've been inspired recently by Tracee Kafer's dance style and her emphasis on freestyle and emoting. I finally took the advice everyone is always giving and I turned the lights down and played some music and just danced whatever came to me.
And I realized, I have absolutely no control over my pirouettes. I fall over, or bang into the pole, or I have to go so slowly that it doesn't even look like a pretty turn anymore.
I'm wondering if my flooring has anything to do with it, but I'm sure most of it is my ability. Do you ladies and gents have any tips?
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11 Replies
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Well, first, I would ask: What is your flooring, and are you dancing in shoes, or barefoot? All of these things come into play, I find, when I'm dancing!
And, as for gaining more control… for me, it came with a lot of practice. At first, I would get all tangled up because I couldn't figure out which way to turn, and then someone told me the "smell your armpit" trick, and it made a little more sense.Going slow is usually better than falling over, but I'll tell you… I fall over sometimes, regardless as to whether I'm going slowly or not! I always manage to catch myself, but occasionally something will go wrong, as it inevitably does when you do something so often.
Try to allow your toes to turn on the floor, stay up on the balls of your feet, and keep at least one hand on the pole. Those are generally my tricks. If you're trying to do it with one leg up, then you definitely have to be able to turn on the balls of your feet!
Also, try to pick a "landing point," because that helps me for hand placement a lot. If I'm going for a pirouette so that my back lands on the pole and I can lean on it, then I often catch the pole with my other hand behind my back, sort of like a reverse grab. If I'm doing a full turn straight into walking, I try to grip the pole in my regular grip as soon as possible- in case I lose balance, it won't really look like it, because I can hang on to the pole! -
Here is a fairly straightforward tutorial on doing them (with out the pole). Pirouettes are all about balance and a tight core.
http://www.fitforafeast.com/dance-lessons-pirouettes-pirouette-tutorial.htm
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I learnt how to do pole pirouettes using Dirdy Birdy's tutorial -> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paVEGrWi7Xk
When I turn, I turn my hand as well so my arm isn't in an awkward position like at 0:39. If you have no balance like I do, it's also helpful to grab the pole behind you while you're turning with your bottom hand like Runemist suggested so you don't topple over.
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dont feel bad my pirouettes are only controlled on one side LOL. Still working on it.
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Thank you for the links!
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Keep in mind that If you're doing a pirouette correctly you shouldn't need the pole for balance. I would suggest practicing them away from the pole with ballet or jazz arms/prep
**Keep your shoulders down and back, this will prevent you from pushing your chest foward
**Think of the top of your head being pulled up by a string, it will start to help align your body and engaged your back/core
**Keep all stomach muscles contracted (without rounding your upper or lower back)
**To help your back from rounding while contracting your abs, push your bottom ribs forward and over your hips. They should feel slightly in front of the rest of your body
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In addition to the other comments here, if you maintain contact with your top hand on the pole during the entire pirouette, you can stay more stable and use it for balance and to "push" you through the pirouette until you get more comfortable with it. Keep your weight grounded through your standing foot and try to balance through it the entire time.
Pirouettes are one of those things WAY easier to troubleshoot in person, and describe/teach in person as well…
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So many good tips here! I recently taught an hour-long class that was exclusively pirouettes. They're not easy to do effortlessly!
Be aware of where your center of gravity is at all times. It should flow down through the ball of your foot as you turn and you should maintain that center through the entire pirouette.
And ditto what other posters have said. 🙂
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I learnt from this video 🙂 http://youtu.be/1_Swtc7nNhE
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What's your flooring like? I've got carpet and I can only do pirouettes in thick socks or heels with tape on the bottom. I can't do pirouettes on bare feet, thin socks or heels without tape. So for dancing it's usually heels for me. It took me a while to figure that out! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif
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Here are some lessons on what I call Pole Turns. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_flower.gif
Under pole turn https://www.studioveena.com/lessons/view/44d25ac4-b8ee-11df-856f-001b214581be
Across Pole Turn https://www.studioveena.com/lessons/view/44d25aa6-b8ee-11df-856f-001b214581be
Side to side https://www.studioveena.com/lessons/view/252161c4-b908-11df-856f-001b214581be
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