By Mignon Furman

Tip 1
In teaching pirouettes it is important to emphasize using turnout. On relevé the supporting leg must retain turnout with the working leg placed so that the toe is just below the knee of the supporting leg. The turned-out working knee acts like a rudder of a ship, steering the way around.

Tip 2
The arms must also be used correctly. For en dehors pirouettes, with the preparation taken from fifth or fourth position, the arms should begin in third. Remind the students that they will turn toward the front arm and that the side arm must not go behind the shoulder.

To teach correct arm placement during the turn, have the students hold an object in the hand of the side arm. As they turn, they switch it into the other hand.

During the turn, the arms should be in first position and slightly shortened (closer to the body), with a feeling of width at the elbows. (People who have broad shoulders turn more easily than those with narrow shoulders.)