What You'll Learn
- Execute the 'magnet-to-knee' passé for a faster, more centered vertical axis.
- Use shoulder and back mechanics to generate rotation momentum without 'winding up'.
- Synchronize arm placement, foot arrival at the knee, and relevé for perfect timing.
- Integrate sharp spotting techniques to maintain balance and prevent dizziness.
- Improve landing stability by maintaining head alignment and a tight fifth position.
About This Video
Elevate your turning technique with this targeted 20-minute practice session from Broche Ballet. Designed specifically to address common technical pitfalls in pirouettes, this session focuses on the critical integration of momentum and spotting. Many dancers struggle with "winding up" their upper body or losing their vertical axis mid-turn; these drills are meticulously engineered to isolate the mechanics of rotation, allowing you to build a more reliable, consistent, and aesthetic turn.
The session begins with a focused follow-along warm-up designed to establish a stable vertical axis. Through exercises including sous-sous, petit développé, and controlled passé balances with fluid port de bras, you will find your center before introducing any rotation. We then transition into the core of the practice: a drill involving turning in quarter increments from fifth position without using the arms.
This exercise is transformative for the intermediate dancer, as it forces the body to utilize shoulder rotation and back engagement to generate momentum. By removing the arms, you learn to avoid the torque that often pulls a dancer off-balance, instead finding power from the core and torso. A key highlight of this instruction is the 'magnet-to-knee' action.
We emphasize the speed and precision of the passé, ensuring the foot reaches the knee instantly to maintain a tight center of gravity. You will learn to synchronize three vital sensations: the foot arriving at the knee, the hands meeting in first position, and the heel leaving the floor in a sharp relevé. To conclude the session, we integrate spotting techniques.
You will practice the essential skill of leaving the head behind and flipping it quickly during the rotation. We also focus on landing stability, teaching you to keep your head over the standing foot and close the working leg tightly behind the calf into a clean fifth position. These drills are essential for any dancer looking to master the art of the pirouette with grace and control.
