Expert: Jennifer - 2/25/2006

Question
Hi Jennifer,
 I have been on a  jazz team for two years and have been taking ballet for one. Sorry for such a broad question, but do you have any advice for spotting and double pirouhettes?
 My chaine's are alright, but I need to improve. I believe I get thrown off when my legs don't go the right direction or I'm not moving in a straight line. Any tips aside from spotting faster?
 Also, I can land doubles every once in a while, but I can't seem to stay up on the toe and balanced. It's not for lack of strength as I am training for pointe, but somehow, I always come down. Double Pequays (However you spell them) are impossible without hopping the second turn.
 Thanks,
Ashli

Answer
I'll try to give a few tips on chaines and piques/pirouettes, but like you said, they will have to be broad, general tips rather than specific.

Usually when ballet students have trouble travelling in a straight line in chaine turns, it is because they are taking uneven steps while turning. Idealy, while doing chaines, you should remain in the first position releve pose, and make perfectly equal half turns all the way accross the floor. This means that you are not stepping to the front or to the side in order to turn... you are merely pivoting on one leg to make the half turn. A lot of times, we'll try to "step out" of the turn with our dominant leg (usually right leg), which ends up making us pivot more than 180 degrees on one half of the turn... which will naturally make your line start to curve.

On exercise to try to correct this: put your fingertips on your shoulders and stick your elbows out to your sides, making a flat line accross your body. When you begin your chaines (more slowly than you normally would do them), make sure that each time you make your half turn, one of your elbows is pointing directly at your spot. When you turn again, your opposite elbow should be pointing at the same spot

As for doing pique turns -- the one tip that helped me stop hopping in all of my pirouettes was to simply keep my leg straight while turning. It seems like too simple a cure, but for me it worked! When you're unsure of your balance, I tend to bend my supporting leg to try to correct my balance during the turn. But if I keep my leg straight and consciously not let it bend during my turn -- even if i feel my self slipping off my balance a bit, it kept me from hopping, and it made my turns more solid.

As a general rule for pirouettes, make sure your passe is as high as possible, make sure your shoulders are moving solidly with the rest of your body ( and not getting left behind in the turn), and, as always, spot fast!

If you need any clarifications, or have any other questions, please feel free to ask@!