What You'll Learn
- How to use a deep plié to generate and store maximum rotational energy
- Techniques for aligning your axis over the supporting leg for superior balance
- The importance of hip and knee placement during the preparation phase
- Strategies to overcome turning anxiety through improved physical trust and control
- Specific drills combining tendu and passé to refine your pirouette form
About This Video
In this 19-minute focused practice session from Broche Ballet, we dive deep into the mechanics of the perfect pirouette. Many dancers struggle with turns not because of the rotation itself, but because of the preparation. This video focuses on generating the necessary rotational force and momentum to complete your turns with grace, speed, and precision.
We begin by examining the plié in the preparation phase. A strong, active plié is your engine; it is where you store the potential energy required for a dynamic rotation. By refining your preparation, you ensure that your body is primed for the movement before your foot even leaves the floor.
You will learn how to keep your hips forward and your knee back, creating a stable base that translates directly into turning power. A key concept covered is the axis of rotation. To achieve multiple turns or even a single clean finish, your center must be perfectly aligned over the supporting leg during the relevé.
We utilize tendu and passé exercises to help you find this verticality and build the muscle memory needed to hold it during a dynamic turn. Furthermore, we address the mental aspect of turning. Anxiety often leads to holding back, which effectively kills your momentum.
By building strength in your balance, you develop the trust necessary for your body to release fully into the turn. We also explore technical secrets, such as opening the working knee to come around before your back leg, ensuring you finish every rotation all the way to the landing. Whether you are working on your first clean single or looking to add more speed and control to your doubles, these drills provide a structured approach to mastering one of ballet's most iconic and challenging movements.
