The pivot turn is a beautiful and essential move in ballet that requires grace and precision. It is a turning movement that starts with the feet in a closed fifth position and ends with the feet in the same position.
It is used to transition from one step to another or to bring a phrase to an end. Although it looks simple, executing the pivot turn correctly takes time and practice.
The first step is to prepare for the turn. Make sure your torso is upright with your arms in fifth position at shoulder level.
Your head should be held up high and your eyes should be focused on one point throughout the turn. This will help you maintain balance.
Next, you need to make sure your feet are correctly positioned in a closed fifth position. This means that your feet should be turned out slightly, while your heels are close together and touching, and your toes are pointing outward at an angle of 45 degrees.
When it comes time to execute the turn, begin by pushing off of the ball of your right foot while keeping your left foot flat on the floor. As you do this, use your core muscles to initiate the turning motion. Keep pushing off with each foot until you have completed one full rotation.
As you rotate, make sure you keep your arms and head still so that they stay focused on one point throughout the movement. You also want to make sure that you keep both of your legs straight as this will help you maintain balance during the turn.
Conclusion:
Doing a pivot turn in ballet can be challenging but with practice it can become second nature! Make sure that before beginning any pivot turns, you are adequately warmed up and have properly positioned feet in a closed fifth position so that when it comes time to execute them, they will look graceful and effortless!