What is the difference between a jazz and ballet pirouette? - by Miss Geneva & Miss Jenny

 What is the difference between a jazz pirouette and a ballet pirouette? 

 

One of the hardest transitions between jazz and ballet are the pirouettes. There are many differences, and teachers often find themselves giving corrections in class....over and over...and over....that are related to this! Read on to learn more:

 

The prep and "take off"

Even the prep to take off has several differences. The little steps leading into the pirouette are different to begin with but we will save that for another time! For the actual position to turn from in jazz, the feet are in a parallel 4th position with the back heel up. In ballet, the feet are in a turned out 4th position with both heels down. In ballet you can also do a pirouette from 5th position. However, all of them you have to use a plié to take off from. 

 

P.S. - Use your plie! How many times do you hear your teacher say that?

 

The turn

Basic pirouettes use a passé position and turn on releve (lifting the heel to turn on the ball of your foot). In jazz, the passé is done in parallel where the knee faces forward. In ballet, the passé is turned out with the knee facing open like a flag. This actually takes a lot of training and coordination to master both ways. Center of gravity and the axis of the turn can feel completely different between the two. But both require you to be right on top of your standing leg, use your spot correctly, and use the arms with just enough force. 

 

P.S.S. - Spot, spot, spot! How many times do you hear your teacher say THAT? :)

 

The landing

Pirouettes can land in all sorts of ways sometimes even into the splits! The first basic pirouette we teach is done turning outward landing certain ways. In ballet, a 4th position pirouette is taught to land right back where the leg began. But with the back leg straight unless taking off for another turn right away.  For the 5th pirouette it lands back in 5th in the front. In jazz, the pirouettes are often taught to land with the feet slightly apart in a second parallel or stepping forward. The landing has different arm poses as well which can add a little grace or a little spice to the movement! 

Overall, it's important to learn how to do both correctly. Every well-rounded dancer can execute both correctly and strongly. Not only can mixing them up be noticed by a judge at a competition, but it can also create a safety hazard when dancing in pointe shoes. 

 

Pirouettes are a ton of fun once you get the hang of it. Which, by the way, will take a LOT of patience, practice, and persistence. But guess what? You CAN do it and you WILL do it. Let's get to work!

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A GREAT EXERCISE TO DO AT HOME

 

Here is an exercise to do at home to improve your balance in your pirouette. Remember to tailor it to the proper Jazz or Ballet technique, whichever you are working on. Depending on your level and experience, you may want to do one step each day (example: focus on step 2 on Day 1, and step 3 on Day 2)

 

1) Grab a chair and find a full length mirror (put the chair to the side for now, we will use it later!)

 

2) Practice your prep (see pink sentence from first section), without going up to releve though. Step back to your prep for counts 1 and 2, then step up to passe (remember, without a releve!) and hold 3, 4, 5, 6...then step back to your starting prep position on 7,8. Repeat this until you notice your form is improving as well as your balance. Does your passe placement look correct? Are you steady when you are in passe or are you wobbling? Is your supporting leg staying turned out or parallel as it should? 

 

3) Now, grab the chair! We will be utilizing the chair as a barre. Facing the mirror with two hands on the chair, do the same exercise as above. Except...now you will rise to releve! Remember to keep your hands LIGHTLY touching the chair - not holding on to it tightly. You want to make sure you aren't putting your weight into the chair; if you do this, you will not be able to balance once we get rid of the chair.

4) Now, get rid of that chair! Here comes the most challenging part. Do the same thing as #3 but now you have nothing to hold on to. Once you can consistently execute this correctly and balance strongly....add in the rotation. In other words....let's TURN!

If you have any questions, please ask your teacher in class whether about pirouettes in general or the exercise above. Another tool to utilize for some portions of this exercise is a yoga block. Ask one of your teachers if you don't already know about it!

Make sure you are doing this in front of a mirror - otherwise you will not notice if you have the correct form! When you're working at home, you really need to pay careful attention to that as there isn't a teacher to correct you.