What Is a Pivot Called in Ballet?
A pivot is a fundamental ballet movement that involves turning your body on one foot and quickly changing direction. It is believed that the technique was first developed by Italian Renaissance dancer, Guglielmo Ebreo in the 15th century.
Pivots are used to transition from one step to another or to create a dramatic pause in the middle of a combination. They can be performed either on two feet or on one foot.
In today’s ballet classes, dancers learn how to do pivots starting with the basic “piqué turn”, which is done on two feet. From there, dancers progress to turns on one foot such as “pirouettes” and “chassés”.
A pirouette is a full rotation of the body on one foot while maintaining balance and control of both legs throughout the turn. A chassé is a series of small steps taken while rotating in place.
Pivots are often used as part of more complex combinations in order to give them dynamic interest and flair. For example, a dancer may transition from an arabesque position into a piqué turn that leads directly into a double pirouette en dehors (a rotation away from the supporting leg).
Pivots can also be used expressively throughout choreography, allowing dancers to emphasize certain steps or movements with dramatic flair. Depending on where they are placed within choreography, pivots may be used to highlight an important transition or create an unexpected pause or surprise for the audience.
No matter what type of pivot is being performed, all pivots require strong technique and careful control of the body’s center in order for them to look effortless and graceful. Aspiring ballet dancers must practice pivots extensively in order to perfect their technique and master this important skill.
Conclusion: Pivots are essential elements of ballet technique that involve quickly changing direction while maintaining balance and control over both legs throughout the movement. Different types of pivots such as piqué turns, pirouettes and chassés can be used either as part of more complex combinations or expressively within choreography for dramatic effect. All pivots require strong technique and careful control of the body’s center in order for them to look graceful when performed correctly.