WHAT DO CABS & PIROUETTES HAVE IN COMMON?

Are your pirouettes perfectly placed? There is SO much that goes into turns that it can sometimes feel overwhelming! So, let's introduce CAB:

Core
Arms
Balance

C – A strong and well-held core is an absolute must for perfectly placed pirouettes! Exercises like Pilates 100 or yoga’s half boat are excellent for developing core strength.

A – Arms are everything in a pirouette—everything! The best tip I ever received was to have a partner push against my arms in 1st position, ensuring that I used my back and arm muscles to keep from squashing my "bubble" in. Another way to think about it is that the air inside your arms in 1st position mustn't escape while you're turning—you have to trap it inside.

B – I really love incremental turn practice for developing balance, alignment, and control. Start with quarter turns in a box pattern, then move to half turns, gradually increasing to full turns. Focus on control and precision. Practicing turns to different rhythmic patterns and music tempos improves musicality and adaptability, giving dancers a sense of suppleness and ease. Single-leg rises and relevés are excellent for building lower leg strength and balance. Yoga’s tree pose is also great—try it with your eyes closed to develop perfect balance and proprioception.

Next time you attempt a pirouette, think CAB and drive away with perfect technique!