| With some students, all their pirouettes get thrown off | | | | Then rise up into your pirouette position in super slow |
| balance. And with others, it is just one side that doesn't | | | | motion. Have a friend watchyou. See exactly what |
| work as well. 2 things to observe are: | | | | other adjustments, if any, occur. |
| * one side back/hip/leg muscles are weaker than the | | | | Sometimes it takes a few times to notice what is |
| other side, when it is the supporting side | | | | adjusting, that is going to throwoff your balance. |
| * therefore you are also weaker in your demi plie just | | | | Also take note that once something has adjusted to |
| before the turn and riseslightly off balance and don't | | | | correct a weakness, your neckmay not be as relaxed |
| have the exact strength needed to recover justby | | | | for spotting as it should be on your weaker side. This |
| gripping your position. | | | | will add to your being throwing off. |
| Here are some more things to examine: | | | | Once you've figured out what is going wrong, you |
| When you are standing in fifth position, check to see | | | | need to practise the super-slow-motiondemi plie and |
| where youcompensate. Anyone who does not have | | | | rise onto the pirouette position, repeatedly, to establish |
| 180 degree turnout from the hips, compensates. | | | | new muscularhabits. If it is a hip level problem, do your |
| To have the front leg looking turned out, the hips are | | | | pirouettes with a lower retire fora while, until you get |
| usually a bit less thansquare. With muscles gripping to | | | | that placement retrained. Presumably you are doing |
| maintain the look of a square position, there willbe | | | | the usual turns in class, and you would see a gradual |
| extra tension in the muscles of your weaker side that | | | | improvement if you do these suggested exercises. |
| may never be properly released. Therefore those | | | | Exercises for pre-pointe, to strengthen the feet/ankles/ |
| muscles will be weaker. | | | | legs etc., for pointe work, will bring to light any |
| Improperly gripped muscles are not stronger, but | | | | weaknesses that need to be addressed for anything |
| weaker. The muscle tone has to be maintained with | | | | more advanced. These will cover all the rises, positions, |
| proper stretching and relaxation. | | | | and balance needed for pirouettes as well. The basic |
| So after you have checked your fifth position, slowly | | | | necessity of turnout , back and other torso muscle |
| demi plie and see if anythingchanges - for example, | | | | strength that is referred to in prepointe exercises, is |
| weight shifting onto one foot more than the other; | | | | the same necessity that your overall development |
| turnoutchanging on the leg that you anticipate | | | | requires to be fulfilled. |
| becoming the supporting leg; sole of thefoot tension | | | | Understanding the mechanics of good dance technique |
| changing in either foot; any visible tilt in the shoulders or | | | | prevents injury and places your development more |
| hip levels. | | | | into your own hands. |