How to Do Ballet Pirouettes
Pirouettes are very popular and well known in the art of ballet. They are graceful moves that can actually be tricky at first but with practice you can perform one with the grace and ease of an experienced dancer. Here are the steps to performing this popular ballet move.
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Instructions
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Start with your feet flat on the floor, a foot and a half apart. One foot should be placed in front of the other one while your toes are pointing in opposite directions.
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Now bend your knees slightly, about one third of the way down.
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Whichever leg you placed in the back, hold the arm of that same side out in front you in a half-circle, leaving the fingertips lined up with the sternum. (breastbone)
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Hold the opposite arm out to your side. Have your palm facing forward and positioned slightly below shoulder level.
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Push your legs down so they straighten out while also allowing your curved arm to open until straight. Turn your torso the same direction your arm is opening up.
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Now picking up your back leg, bend it and then touch your front leg that you are standing on. Keep your toes close above the knee. Your standing leg should be holding about ninety percent of your body weight.
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Now rise up on your metatarsals (your feet) on your front leg, while straightening your knee but be sure you don't turn in the process.
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Now close your arms into almost a complete circle with your fingertips an inch apart and hold your arms in place.
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Find a focal point so you can keep your eyes in that spot as you start turning. Each time your head comes around, focus on that focal point.
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After a few turns, ,lower your foot that is placed on your knee and place it on the floor behind you. Open your arms to the sides and cease the turning.
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Now repeat the steps, continue practicing and you will become better at performing pirouettes in no time at all!
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Tips & Warnings
Break the process down if you feel it too much to do all at once.
Try some balancing techniques and routines first if you find it hard to balance on just one leg.
Practice to music. Playing music may help you find your own rhythm and also make it easier for you to learn the pirouette.
This article is not guaranteed to work for everyone, use at your own risk!
Be sure the space you are practicing in, is open enough so that if you fall you will not hurt yourself or anyone else!
Resources
- Photo Credit www.artofballet.com
