Can't hold turnout during pirouettes?

Question

I cant seem to hold my turn out during pirouettes. My teachers say that my body has a habit of turning before my leg can bend or the other go up on releve. And my turnout is good, but my knee is weird and it goes 1/2 parallel, 1/2 turned out, causing me to sickle my feet. Tips for holding out turnout at knee?

Answer 1

I have a couple of hints

1)  don't think about your standing leg turning,  only about going up to releve.    The turn motion should come from your working knee.   Just crank it backwards and your standing leg will follow.

2)  It sounds like you are having trouble coordinating the separate aspects of the movement.     You need to break it down into pieces.    

Start with just a passe releve.     Do your normal pirouette preparation,  and then passe releve with NO TURN.   Work on coordinating your legs so that your standing foot hits releve at the same time as your working leg hits passe.  

Once this feels comfortable, add a 1/4 turn,  paying attention to keeping both legs properly turned out.  

Then move up to a 1/2 turn and then a full turn as your cordination and turnout improves.

3)  Don't worry about doing mutiple pirouettes until you can fix your single.  If you can get a single technically correct the doubles and triples will come naturally.  

4) take your time to get it right

Answer 2

Ok. Well, if your leg isn't going into to retere quickly, your turns won't be as good as they can be. Go to the barre, stand with your feet in fifth or fourth (whichever you are pirouetting from) and just pick your leg as quickly as possible into retere. Then try that with a releve THE TWO MUST HAPPEN AT THE SAME TIME. Practise this on both legs, and also in the centre.

Then try to do a pirouette. Think of pulling the leg up, releving and pulling in your arms at the same time. Lock your leg in retere and if your turning to the right, think of the leg going to the left wall. DON'T FORGET YOUR POSTURE AND DON'T LEAN BACK!

I know thats alot but try it.

Answer 3

i have the same problem when i turn. my leg always naturally wants to turn in cuz im used to doing jazz turns. just squezz you abbs and but and it will hold in place

Answer 4

Before you turn tighten your body form the waist down and make sure your body posture is strait. Think of controlling every mussel, but don't forget to still look graceful

Answer 5

i take ballet too and i understand where you are coming from. try to squeeze your abs and your thighs. it helps!

Answer 6

You need to do lots of turnout practice-irish dance is the same in that you have to have really good turnout. I find a good thing to do is lots of little jumps keeping your feet in positioned turnout, not very high but enough to point your toes. If you can hold these well, try doing the same but hold turnout in tuck jumps. I find it makes it easier to hold my turnout when I do steps, I think it might work for you?