Basic Turns
Pivot Turn
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A turn on two feet. Stepping fwd on one foot, quickly change direction of your body to face the opposite direction. Both feet remain on floor.
To make a full, or complete, pivot turn, step fwd again but in a line opposite from the original direction. Continue the pivot to end up facign in the original direction. Remember to spot.
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Paddle Turn
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A simple turn that pivots the body around one spot. The weight is continually shifted from one foot to the other. The supporting stationary leg pivots on the ball of the foot, with the heel lifting slightly off the floor. The other leg is extended to the side and ‘paddles’ on the ball of the foot, rotating the body in a circular direction while the foot traces an imaginary circular pattern on the floor.
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Chaine Turn
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Derive from ballet. It is a two-step turn generally performed in releve, but it amy also be performed in plie. The body rotates 180degrees on each step of the turn, and the turning movement progresses in a straight line. The weight shifts from one leg to the other with evenly balanced steps. In chaine turns performed in releve, the legs should be held in first position turned out. In chaine turns performed in plie, the legs may be held parallel or turned out in either first or second position.
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Soutenu Turn
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‘Sustained’ Turn also originates in ballet, but it may rotate in quarten turns, half turns or whole turns in Jazz dancing. Prepare for the turn by stepping to parallel second in plie, pulling the second leg in to meet the prep leg as the turn is executed with both legs in releve. The weight of the body is shared equally by both legs during the turn. The turn may be executed either inward or outward, with the second leg being pulled in, to cross either in front or in back of the prep leg.
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Touch Turn
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A variation of the soutenu turn, but this turn is executed partially around on one leg as the opposite leg touches the floor. To complete the turn, the weight transfers to the ‘touching’ leg by stepping onto that foot. The touch turn, or touch soutenu, can be executed in either releve or plie.
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Pirouette
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Pirouette (whirling about) turn in Ballet is inplace, with the supporting leg in releve and the other in passe. Here it can be in parallel or turned-out position. Parallel ones may also be done with the supporting leg in plie. In doing pirouettes, bring the lifted knee directly to high passe, maintain good alignment, and spot.
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