how do you do a fuoette?

Question

I have tried to teach myself with little success, and my dance teachers haven't really taught me how yet. i am 13 and really want to be a good dancer. please help!

Answer 1

from angelfire.com:
Fouette Turns
I know a lot of people that have trouble with fouette turns, and if you are one of them, don't worry! Help is on the way, even professionals lose their turns sometimes.
You start out in the same position as you would if you are doing a regular turn. And then you just do a turn, but instead of landing it, you bring your leg out 90 degrees and go into a plie, then you bring it into a pique position and go back up on relevee at the same time ( You bend it to your knee ) then turn to the front, bring your foot out, and you repeat that over and over!
A really important part is that you don't drop your arms, because they give you force. Keep your spot and turn out and pointe ur toes!
Here are some important pointers you should consider, whether you are improving your turns, or just learning.

1) Keep your leg straight.
2) Don't forget to spot.
3) Always hit your points, don't make it all flow. By hitting i mean, be very sharp and hit your positions to the front and back.
4) Don't try to bring your leg up higher than you can lift it without lifting your hips. Keep it at your level, that way you won't lose your balance.
5) Really use your arms to whip you around, because they give you force.

Answer 2

Eric G up there gave a terrific definition on how to execute a fouette turn. The only thing I would add is practice them at the barre or if you're at home, put your hand on the kitchen counter or on the back of a chair.

With one hand on the barre, lift your (R) leg to the front keeping it straight, the (L) leg is in plie <> then bring your (R) leg around to second and snap it into the passe while lifting your (L)to releve <>

Of course always keep you rib cage in correct position, pull up tall and straight, and use your arms in the correct preparation and execution positions while you practice.

Do this exercise over and over on the right and on the left legs. It will condition your body and muscles to prepare them for the turn. Most girls just need to work on holding their extensions front at a 90 degree position before executing the turn. Then make sure your leg pulls all the way into the second position extension before snapping to the passe. This motion is usually the culprit of a weak turn.

This is a more advanced turn and it takes dancers years of conditioning and practice before they can execute them well!! So don't give up and keep practicing!! With some hard work and good effort you will begin to see improvements as you work on them.

Answer 3

lift one leg in front of you, turn a half-turn in the direction opposite of that leg, and releve the foot on the ground as you turn. usually arms go up to 5th during the turn and down to arabesque position 1st or 2nd as you land in arabesque. for example, if you kicked your left leg, you would make a half-turn to the right. your leg that you lifted stays in the air as you turn, and you have to try to keep it in the same position as you rotate it to complete the turn. i reccomend asking your ballet teacher to teach it to you also, or at least show you how it is done. And by the way, fuoettes are actually really easy once you learn them, and fun too. I'm 14, and I think I learned to do them a year ago, so if you have been doing ballet for at least a few years i would say you would have no problem doing one.

Answer 4

Fouette turns are hard turns indeed. But with practice, you'll get them.
First of all, I would suggest working on a regular pirouette as a regular pirouette requires many aspects that you will need for your fouette turn. Check your alignment. When you "sit" in fourth, is your back straight? Is your butt sticking out? Make sure you are centered in your position. (Is your weight evenly distributed between both legs?) Make sure you pull your stomach in (use those abs) and spot really fast. Spotting will really help you get around in your foutte turn and keep you going.

I would also suggest working on your fouttes at the bar first (Without turning). If your are doing them on the right, start with your right leg in front in fifth or third position. Tendu the Right foot and bring it to the back into fourth. Pull the right leg up into passe and pull up into releve. Then come down into plie on the left leg and your right leg should come out to the front, not on the floor but not way up in the air. Then pull the left foot up into passe and at the same time rond de jambe the right leg en l'air en dehors. Once you have rond de jambed the right leg it will come back to the front and you will plie the left leg again. Try doing it continuously focusing on pulling in your abs and plieing the left leg. If you don't plie you won't be able to get around.

When you feel comfortable with that do the same exercise at the bar but try turning as you pull the leg in to do the rond de jambe.

Do not throw yourself around or throw your arms to get momentum, you will just end up on the floor. Instead pull straight up as if you had a string in your head and someone was pulling you up.

Remember the harder you spot, the more likely you are to get around and don't forget to pull in those abs.

Good luck with those turns!

Answer 5

you need to buy yourself a refrence book on ballet terminology and try all the turns! I have a giant book with pics in it and its awwesome.

fouette turns are ment to be done in a set of over 12 or 15.
thats how they are supposed to be done.
I would perfect my perouettes first though for balance and try landing with your leg out of your perouette with your standing leg in demi plie and the leg you had in retire' for the turn extend to the front en avant at 45 degrees.

Answer 6

practice at the bar first until you have the leg movements down!
then try it in center and try to keep your spot.
it comes with hard work and dedication [i am still working really hard to get them] but im sure you will eventually get it!

Answer 7

the best thing is to really work on your turns until you really get a hang of them first, then start with your fouetté's ... start with one then move on take it slowly don't be too rushed :-]