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A pirouette in classical ballet will often not change positions during the turn, and if it does, its a change that looks purposefully done. (like from a front attitude, into passe, into a back attitude for example). But what you want to avoid is having different positions of your body throughout the turn and each…

Two of the important ingredients for a pirouette are balance and preparation. But its important to have these two at the same time for consistent pirouettes. In your preparation, try to already be on balance and maintain it as you plié for the preparation. It may seem obvious, but some dancers disconnect the two, the…

Sometimes advanced students or professionals get caught up in doing a certain number of pirouettes, even when they’re struggling with them. If you can usually do three or four pirouettes but keep falling out of them… don’t keep practicing three or four pirouettes! Dial it back a little and try a double. Or even a…

Its a common mistake to try to whip your arms around, or to focus so intently on them that they seem to make up 90% of your pirouette. It should be the exact opposite. Try instead to think of your whole body, equally, making the pirouette position. If anything, you want to focus more strength…

Dancers who often come off releve, but appear to be mostly aligned, may need to strengthen their ankles and legs. If releving more than a couple seconds really tires out your calf muscles quickly, you need to try some therapy band exercises to improve the strength in your ankles and calves. A great exercise is…

A pirouette en dehors is a classical ballet term meaning “a spin, turning outward” and describes when a dancer turns toward the direction of the leg they lift into the turning position.  For example, a dancer with their left foot in front, will lift the right foot into the pirouette and also turn to the…

A pirouette en dedans is a classical ballet term that describes a pirouette turning inward toward the standing leg.  For example, if a dancer is turning on the right leg, the dancer will be turning to the right in an en dedans pirouette. Pirouettes en dedans are an intermediate ballet step but very commonly seen…

Pirouette a la seconde is a classical ballet term meaning a “spin with leg to the side” or “spin with leg in second position.” A dancing performing a pirouette a la seconde will be turning on their supporting leg with their other leg to the side and straight with a pointed foot.  It can be…

Pirouette is a classical ballet term meaning “spin.”  It describes when a dancer is turning around one leg with the other off the ground and in a position, most commonly in passé.  A pirouette can be done either en dedans, turning in towards the supporting leg that the dancer is turning on, or en dehors,…

Here are some great tips for improving pirouettes. Take a look at each one and try to apply these corrections the next time you’re doing a pirouette combination in ballet class. These tips assume you already have a general understanding of how to do a en dehors pirouette in retiré.  These pirouette tips aren’t just…