How to Do Basic Turns | Jazz Dance

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I’m going to break down a couple of basic jazz dance terms for you. The first one is a pirouette. Here we go. You start with the preparation. Arms are in a nice L position, you step back with your right leg, ball, change, nice deep plié into the ground, you push off your back right foot into a passé, and arms go into a round first position and then drop down to neutral. I’ll break that down one more time. Ball, change, up, and down.

A great way to break this down for kids or even beginner adults is to go in the box. Ball, change, hold, and down. Face to side. Ball, change, hold, and down. Face the back, ball, change, hold, and down. Face the side, ball, change, hold, and down. Face the front. Then you break it down into a half turn. Ball, change, face the back, and down. Ball, change, face the front, and down. Important is that the passé leg is completely connected to the knee, okay. So that it’s pressed against, the core is activated, stomach is pressed down into the lower back and you’re also holding your arms in a nice round position, lifting up through the body.

After the half turns then you should try for a full turn. If you step on your right and pick up your right leg you turn to the right, and ball, change, up, and down. One more time, ball, change, up, and down. That can then go into a double, triple, quadruple, or five, six, seven, eight turns as the students become more and more advanced with turning. Double, ball, change, up, up, down. You should really try to teach to clean it in a nice parallel position.

We can also, and also you need to do that on the right and the left, which I’ll show you with the music. Another basic jazz turn is an inward turn. Inward turns look like this. You start with a nice tombe, arms are prepared and then you pick up your left leg but turn towards your right, using your right arm. Up, and down. Again, the inward jazz turn is up, and down. Again, keep thinking about really pushing off that back leg into the passé right away. I’ll show you to the left. Left arm opens, right arm closes, you push up into the passé and drop down. That’s the inward jazz turn.

So there you are. Those are two very basic jazz turns that you can teach your students, inwards and outwards. Ball, change, passé, and down. Side, ball, change, up, and down. Face the back. Ball, change, up, and down. To the side. Ball, change, up, and down. To the front half turn, and to the front. Try to hold that releve as long as possible. Now singles. One more time. Go for a double. Good job. All right you need to reverse that to the left. I’m not going to do that right now, but you guys need to do that. So right and left are very, very important.

All right here are the inward turns. Nice tombe, and use your arms pull it up. Up, and down. Good, one more time. Up and down. Other side I will do this time. Up and down. One more time. Up and down. Good. Really try to sustain those turns and lengthen up through your torso.

[adffsd]

thank you dance moms for making me want to learn how to dance while using this EXTREMELY inflexible, clumsy body

[crystalcolor]

I always wanted to be a dancer ever since I watched dance moms.

[miareason]

Is it just me or does the all black outfit make it difficult to follow?

[savannahrhea]

This actually helped me. I watch dance moms (if you don't know what that is..you should be ashamed) so I wanted to learn how to turn like them. And this video actually helped. So thank you ☺

[NikkiSaguinTheFabulousNikki]

im here because dance moms inspired me -_-

[GMAMADANCE]

I am not a professional dancer but these steps are helping my dance ministry to beginning learners. Not looking to put anyone down I enjoy the small things in life and this great for my young ones to begin with. Thank you for your time Ms. Liz Piccoli.

[karian]

GUYS
To everybody saying that spotting is not necessary, ask anybody. Literally anybody. Any dance teacher or someone who has had experience it dance. SPOTTING IS THE MOST IMPORTANT TIP AND TOOL. I have been dancing for years and this is the only advice teachers give. When you don't spot you lose balance, topple over, and barely do any turns. Spotting makes you able to do more turns. It gives you momentum. When you spot, you won't topple over, lose your balance, or get dizzy. Spotting is important.

[nathaliexlr]

She should wear coloured socks. Seriously. I can't see how exactly they're supposed to be against her black pants -_-

[hannahruth]

This helped a bunch! I've done dance for a total of 5 years and I've never been able to do a full pirouette, turns out I was prepping all wrong! Thank you!
I can now do one and a half, thanks to this video!

[yelanbbg]

Thank you this really helped me fix and make my pirouettes better!
my inspiration has always been dance moms and to be like maddie so thank you for the help!🥰

[adriaspadina]

You dont ball change before you turn

You totally forgot about spotting

You fall out of your turns...

[brookehinkley]

She didn't teach about spotting.
Her arms were too far apart in first position.
Her hands looked awkward.
And she called an inside pirouette an "inward turn."
Lol what is this...

[nathaliexlr]

Woah I've been attempting pirouettes for a long time now only from watching gymnastics. I've improved a lot just practicing by myself but watching this now I got much better.

[emotionalemu]

As a BOY, who loves dance and wants to try jazz turns etc. I think this sets a perfect example on how to turn, I learned how to turned like this is 2 weeks! Thank you ❤❤❤❤

[marysavocchia]

I understand that this is jazz, but seriously, you need to spot and land in a correct parallel fourth. Also, she was winding up, and that is very bad technique.

[boywench]

I feel like this method, which my teacher swears by, has really stunted my spotting, as your head is basically going in a slow-motion circle the whole time. So here I am three years later watching YouTube videos because I still can't do a proper jazz pirouette. And it's the same exact ineffective method. Great.

[crazycookieloverXD]

omg woman
I can do it easily with spotting cringing rn shes about to fall 😁

[jonathanmercer]

I'd like to know what criteria howcast uses to filter their teachers... this woman's technique is very sloppy and she is not very thorough with her explination. Also, as many people have said, she has no head spot... that is problematic. it is also the reason why she falls out of her double pirouette. Anyway... howcast, if you want someone to teach turns let me know.

[bowbowbow]

as a dancer for nearly 10 years and more, please spot. thats what will help you do doubles, triples, etc.

[sycois]

Was not expecting Indian beats in the background.. full on dholak beats. Sweet!