Pirouettes Are Back!

First off, I want to apologize that this blog has been silent lately!  Hopefully, now that summer is here, I'll be able to post a bit more.

I have promised that I would post more about releves and pirouettes.  I haven't forgotten, even though it's been a million years since this post.

Well, as I've slowly progressed, my teachers have given me a few pointers and corrections about pirouettes that I'd like to share here.

• Instead of springing onto releve retire, try to "push the floor away from you."  This should feel like a strong push down into the ground instead of a "sproing" into retire.  This habit helps avoid "jumping" into releve on your pointe shoes and helps you turn more smoothly.
• In turns from fourth position, be sure not to "sit" in your back foot.  Instead of putting all of your weight into your back foot, use it as the force to get you turning.  
• SPOT!!! I've said this before, but it makes a huge difference.  Find a picture, or a spot on the wall, or someone's face, or the piano player, or whatever!  Just spot and it will help!
• A teacher once said to me about pirouettes, "It's like a cookie cutter shape hung on a string.  The shape stays the same, you just turn it."  Try to keep the same shape all of the way around and then hold it as you finish, just like the girl in the picture below.

Again, my turns need lots of work and I hope that my little discoveries will help out some. :)

I also found this article insightful, as well as some tidbits from The Ballet Companion, by Eliza Gaynor Minden.

-Mandy

The joy of the Lord is my strength!