- Copyright 2006, Catherine L. Tully
Many dancers find that turns are a difficult part of dance. If you don’t take to turns naturally, there are some things that you can do to improve. Here are five tips for getting those pirouettes on track:
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Practice spotting. Learning how to spot well can take some time. Dance Teacher magazine has a great article online here that explains the details on how to get the most out of this technique for not getting dizzy while you turn.
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Get feedback. Listen to what your teacher tells you about your turns and try to apply it. This can be difficult, because you can’t see your body at the same time you are turning. Still, your teacher can work with you to correct any problems they see with your turns.
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Pay attention to your body. If you are always falling forward out of your turns, you may need to keep your shoulders back more or watch that you are not looking down at the ground. If you are falling backward, see if you are raising your arms too high or letting your back sway. Whatever the problem is with your turn, it will also help give you a clue as to what the solution may be.
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Watch and learn. Keep watching those who turn well and see what they do to prepare and execute their turns. If you learn visually this will be especially helpful.
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Be patient. Turns are one of the most difficult things to master. Don’t get discouraged; if you keep practicing, they will improve!
