Mastering Ballet Turns: Finding Balance in Retiré, Passé, and Relevé

Mastering ballet turns requires more than just momentum; it requires a precise understanding of alignment, spotting, and core stability. This 14-minute practice session from Broche Ballet focuses on the foundational Turning Drills that every dancer needs to find their center. We begin by reviewing the essential preparation movements, including tendu, plié, and ronde de jambe.

These exercises are designed to ground your technique and prepare your body for the vertical challenges of turning. A core focus of this lesson is the transition into fourth position. Many dancers struggle with leaning too far back or losing their box during preparation.

Our instructor guides you through maintaining a straight-down posture, ensuring that your hips remain square and your weight is perfectly centered. By perfecting the ronde de jambe into fourth, you learn how to carry your momentum forward, setting the stage for a controlled pirouette. We then move into finding balance in retiré and passé.

Practicing these positions on flat feet first allows you to find your vertical axis before challenging yourself on relevé. The instructor provides specific feedback on head placement, emphasizing that the head should stay front during the initial takeoff. This isolation of the head is the first step in developing a strong spotting technique, which is vital for preventing dizziness and maintaining direction.

At Broche Ballet, we believe in building skills step-by-step. This video encourages you to slow down and focus on the mechanics of the movement rather than the number of rotations. By drilling these basics in the center, you develop the muscle memory needed for advanced work.

Whether you are a late-beginner looking to start turning or an intermediate dancer needing a technique refresh, these drills offer the clarity and structure needed to excel.