Attitude An attitude turn is performed with the working leg held in
attitude position. In ballet, the performer may be assisted by a partner so that the turn can be performed slowly.
Axel An axel is a turn in which the performer leaps into the air and, while airborne, tucks both legs underneath and rotates. It is usually executed while traveling across the floor. It is commonly performed in jazz dance and is often immediately preceded by a
chaînés in a deep plié (bend of the knees).
Barrel roll A
barrel roll turn, or simply
barrel roll, is a turn that involves casting the arms up and leaping into the air and rotating 360 degrees while airborne. While airborne, the performer's back may be arched and the head may be cast back. It starts and ends with the performer facing forward. Barrel roll turns are commonly used in tap, jazz, and contemporary dance.
Chaînés Chaînés (
French, meaning "chain") is a type of two-step turn that is executed repeatedly while the performer travels along a line or curved (often circular or elliptical) path. It is performed quickly on alternating feet and results in a complete rotation for every two steps taken. It is commonly used in ballet, modern, and ballroom dancing. In the first half-turn, one foot is stepped out to the dancer's side in the direction of travel and placed in releve or en pointe; the dancer then rotates 180° on the placed foot while lifting the other foot so that it crosses over the placed foot. As this happens, the arms are brought together away from the chest and spotting technique is employed so that the dancer's head faces the direction of travel as much as possible. The second half-turn is executed with the feet together. Upon completion of the second half-turn, the first foot is stepped out again to begin another turn. In ballet, chaînés turns are usually performed at a very fast tempo, with each turn lasting one half or one quarter of a music beat. They can be performed outwards (en dehors), or inwards (en dedans).
Fouetté A
fouetté turn (or
fouetté en tournant) begins with the performer standing on one flat foot in
plié (with knee bent). The working leg is extended and whipped around (
fouetté is French for "whipped") to the side and then, once extended to maximum turnout, bent and pulled in to a passe or retiré position. The foot beats behind the knee and then to the front of the knee of the supporting leg before extending back out to the front. At the same time, the supporting foot transitions to
relevé (heel raised), in ballet often rising to
en pointe (on toe tips). These movements create the angular momentum needed for one turn, which is executed by rotating in place on the supporting foot. In
classical ballet, particular significance is attached to the successful completion of 32 consecutive fouettés, a feat first performed publicly by Italian ballerina
Pierina Legnani in 1893 and since incorporated into the
grand pas of
Swan Lake and other 20th-century ballets.
Jeanne Devereaux, an American prima ballerina in the first half of the 20th century, held the world record of 16 triple fouettés (48 total).
Illusion An
illusion turn (or simply
illusion) is performed by keeping the working leg aligned with the torso while, simultaneously, a 360 degree spin is executed while the torso pivots down and then back up at the hip. An illusion can be performed by turning toward or away from the working leg; the latter is known as a
reverse illusion. Illusions are commonly performed in jazz dance and rhythmic gymnastics.
Piqué A
piqué turn is begun by stepping directly onto the ball of a
relevé (or
en pointe) foot, followed by a complete rotation while supported by the relevé (or en pointe) foot before returning to plié position. The working leg is often held in
retiré position, but may be held in a variety of other positions, either with or without turnout.
Pirouette A
pirouette (literally "whirl" or "spin") is a type of dance turn on one foot. It is performed with
turnout (legs rotated outward at hips) in ballet, and typically without turnout in gymnastics and many other genres of dance, such as jazz and modern. It is often executed by starting with one or both legs in
plié (knees bent) and then rising onto
demi pointe (heels raised) as the turn commences, or in the case of ballet dancers,
en pointe (on toe tips). Pirouettes may be executed singly or in multiple rotations; the latter is commonly performed in the adagio part of a
grand pas de deux. There are many variations of pirouettes. A pirouette can be executed beginning from fifth or fourth position in ballet, whereas artistic gymnasts usually start from fourth position. In ballet, the working leg can be held in
retiré position or in
attitude,
arabesque, or
second position. The performer may return to the starting position, finish in arabesque or attitude, or proceed otherwise. A pirouette is most often performed
en dehors but can also be performed
en dedans. ==See also==