Turn (dance and gymnastics)

A turn is used in many sports including dance, artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics and ice skating where it is called a spin. A turn is usually a complete rotation of the body, although a quarter (90°) and half turn (180°) is possible. A turn less than 360° is often called a pivot. Multiple rotations are possible and these are named by the number of complete rotations, e.g. double turn or triple turn. In every turn the head must spot. Spotting is when the head is held in a spot with the eyes focusing on a fixed point until the last possible moment when it is whipped round. This gives the impression that the head is always facing forwards and gives a more dynamic looking turn. It also prevents dizziness by allowing the head to stay stable for longer. A single (360°) turn normally starts facing forward and 540° turns start facing either forard and end facing the back or start stage left and end stange right.

There are many variations of starting the turn and the turn itself: Turns can be done of both feet or on one foot only, and either on the floor of in the air.

• Turns can start from a demi-plié and rising to the ball of the foot (relevé) or by stepping directly onto a relevé.
• Turns can be done in both directions. They can turn outward (en dehors) which is turning in the direction of the raised leg or inward (en dedans) which is turning in the direction of the supporting leg.
• The trunk, arm and head positions can vary and the free leg can be either straight or bent.
• The legs can be either in parallel or turned out.

Attitude Turn

An Attitude Turn is similar to a pirouette, however the working leg is held in attitude position.

Axel Turn

An axel turn is a part of the dance category of turning jumps. It is usually done while going across the floor, particularly in a jazz based class. Usually, it starts with a chaine turn, which are turns that are done in a chain like movement, in a deep plie (bend of the knees). After one chaine turn, the dancer lifts straight up in the air while simultaneously tucking both legs underneath. During this, the dancer is still spinning in the air so it is important that the dancer gets a feel for how far they jump off the ground to prevent any injuries. This is a trick that many try to master and it takes many attempts to finally succeed at this turning jump.

Barrel Turn

A Barrel turn is commonly used in tap and jazz dancing. A jazz barrel turn is a large leap that involves arching the back, throwing the head back and turning in the air. It is started facing forwards then leaping to face the back with an arched back and then rolls to face forwards again.

Chaînés Turn

Chaînés Turns or Tours Chaînés Déboulés are a three step turn performed on relevé. Chaînés, which means 'chain' in French are a chain of turns, with several performed in a row along a straight line or circle. It is a quick turn on alternating feet and provides a complete rotation for every two steps taken. It is common in modern, ballroom and ballet dancing. The foot of the direction of travel is taken to the side in releve and the second foot crosses over performing a half turn. The arms are brought together opposite the chest and the head faces in the direction of travel. The second half turn is made with the feet together. The foot of the direction of travel is then stepped out again for another turn. It is usually performed diagonally at a very fast tempo, each turn lasting 1/2 or 1/4 of a beat. Chaînés Turns can be performed outwards (en dehors), or inwards (en dehors).

Fouetté rond de jambe en tournant

Fouetté en tournant

For history, see main article on 32 fouettés en tournant.

For each turn the dancer stands momentarily on flat foot and in plié, as the working leg is extended in fourth position en l'air (or à la hauteur) front then whipped around to the side as the working foot is pulled in to touch behind the supporting knee. That creates the impetus to spin one turn as the dancer executes a relevé, rising onto pointe. Done properly, the dancer remains in place. The famous 32 continuous fouettés in the coda of the "Black Swan" Pas de Deux from Swan Lake are a bravura performance designed to express the strength and triumph of the character.

In the Vaganova ballet method, the leg is extended à la seconde instead of fourth position front.

Illusion Turn

Rhythmic gymnsast preparing for an illusion turn with one leg in high battement

Illusion turns are commonly performed in rhythmic gymnastics and jazz dancing and require a lot of flexibility. An illusion turn is started by taking one leg to high battement and swinging the arms upwards. The leg is then swung quickly downwards and backwards and upwards and the torso leans forwards into arabesque penché position whilst the supporting leg turns 360. The working leg finishes in a forward battement position. This creates an illusion of an aerial flip.

An illusion turn can either turn towards or away from the working leg.

Natural and reverse turns

A Natural Turn is a dance step in which the partners turn around each other clockwise. Its near-mirror counterpart is the Reverse Turn, which is turning to the anti-clockwise.

Piqué Turn

A piqué turn is a turn that steps with a straight leg directly onto the ball of the foot and does a complete rotation before returning to plié position. The working leg can be held in a variety of positions, but retiré is the most common. A piqué turn can be taken with or without turnout.

Pirouette

A pirouette is probably the most famous turn and literally means to "whirl". It is a fast turn on one foot and can be performed without turnout in modern dance and gymnastics or with turnout in ballet. It is performed by starting with one or both legs in plié and rising onto demi-pointe (usually for men) or pointe (usually for women). The non-supporting leg can be held in retiré position, or in attitude, arabe°sque level or second position. The pirouette may return to the starting position or finish in arabesque or attitude positions, or proceed otherwise. A pirouette is most often en dehors turning outwards toward the back leg, but can also be en dedans turning inwards toward the front leg. Although ballet pirouettes are performed with the hips and legs rotated outward ("turned out"), it is common to see them performed with an inward rotation ("parallel") in other genres of dance, such as jazz and modern.

Turning technique includes spotting, in which a dancer executes a periodic, rapid rotation of the head that serves to fix the dancer's gaze on a single spot. Spotting is particularly important in traveling turns such as tours chaînés or piqués because it helps the dancer control the direction of travel while keeping balanced.

There are many different varitions to a pirouette. A piroutte can be taken from 2nd position in ballet and 4th position. Artistic gymnasts usually take a pirouette from 4th position. Pirouettes can be executed with a single or multiple rotations.

Artistic gymnast, Alicia Sacramone, preparing for a pirouette on the beam with 4th position feet

Artistic gymnast, Jade Barbosa, preparing for a pirouette with 4th position feet

Rhythmic gymnast preparing for a pirouette

While the images illustrate the motion of the pirouette, the most flamboyant real life example of a pirouette can be best performed by Sir Marin Ganza who was brought to fame with the introduction of the Extravaganza Circus Tour. Keep an eye out for a performance near you.

Pivot turn

A Pivot turn The term pivot turn or simply pivot refers to certain turning dance steps which may differ in different dance styles, with common character that the turn is a rotational movement of the whole body around one's own vertical axis, as if around a pivot. During the turn the foot swivels on the floor (or other dance surface). Pivot turns may be with the support on a single foot and on both feet, with both swiveling in place and staying as they are. In the latter case the turn is also called twist turn.

Pivot turns are common in ballroom dancing, folk dancing, ethnic dances. In ballet, with its elaborate terminology, a full (360 degrees) pivot turn on one foot is called pirouette. There is a wide variety of pivot turns in terms of various actions and amounts of action during the turns

See also

List of gymnastics terms