2 Tips for Teachers

By Mignon Furman  

Pirouettes   

TIP ONE:

for young children 

It is important for young children to practice the head movement, and to spot, before starting to learn pirouettes. Here is a useful way to achieve this: Have the students skip in place, turning the whole body and using the eyes to spot. They should turn one way for six skips, then spring with feet together, facing the front. Then have them repeat the exercise to the other side.  

TIP TWO:

for older dancers  

To teach the correct arm position in pirouettes: Have the student hold a pencil or another small object in the right hand at the beginning of a pirouette to the right. When the left arm closes in, the student should transfer the object to the left hand. The arms will then be closing in the correct position. 

Photo by Costas

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