Tips for Turns (very brief!)

A very quick set of things to think about while you're turning!
About Me:
Hi, my name is Victoria! I’m a ballet dancer and teacher trained in the Vaganova method. I make instructional videos without sugar-coating the gritty details. I danced professionally as a freelancer, and in a contemporary company for several years in NYC. Due to the pandemic, I now reside in rural Pennsylvania. I'm a little salty because I struggle with chronic illnesses & invisible disabilities, but I try to keep it real and raise awareness...
FAQs:
Are you actually Russian?:
Yes, I’m technically a tiny bit Russian.
We always thought my mother was 100% Italian. But when she took the ancestry test, we learned she’s actually a bit Middle Eastern and Circassian (Southern Russia) as well!
Did you train in Russia?:
No, I did not attend ballet school in Russia.
But all of my instructors have direct lineage to the Vaganova Academy. I received a majority of my training from Ballerina Irina Lebedeva, as well as other former principal dancers from the Mariinsky Ballet and Bolshoi Ballet.
What ballet academy did you attend?:
I never attended a formal ballet academy. All of my training is a culmination of public dance studios and open adult ballet classes that would run 2-3 days a week- with the occasional summer intensive. This is why I’m only about 85% competent in my execution and lessons. I just do the best with what i've got- The average American dancer might not notice this, but the Russian dancers definitely do!
Growing up near NYC, I took advantage of the most prestigious schools and teachers in the area, including; Gelsey Kirkland, Simon Kazantsev, Yaroslav Fadeyev, Katherine Healy, Leslie Browne, Lupe Serrano, and collegiate programs at American Ballet Theatre.
I did visit St. Petersburg and Moscow after I graduated college in 2012. I had the absolute honor of visiting the Vaganova Academy and observing some classes. I also took company class with Yacobson Ballet.
Where do you work as a professional?:
Since I got such a late start in my training, (and went to college right after high school) I didn’t join a company until I was in my late 20s. Until then, I was mostly teaching and freelancing. I did Nutcracker gigs, occasional guest appearances for studio productions, and entertainment gigs for high end parties. In 2019 I joined a contemporary ballet company in NYC. I left in 2021 when I moved to Pennsylvania. Now I teach in multiple studios in PA, but I'm trying to start my own ballet company.
What’s the story with your company?:
I’m the founder of Indigo Ballet, a collaborative, dancer-run company with no hierarchy. Currently, I’m working on building a repertoire of virtual performances (music videos) to show people what we have to offer. We will be performing for a live audience in Spring/Summer of 2024!
If you wish to donate towards this endeavor, funds will go directly to the dancers of Indigo Ballet. You can do so at- gofund.me/fe171a40
Why do you talk about your chronic illnesses?:
Firstly, this is just the platform where I have the most outreach. I am passionate about raising awareness about hidden illnesses, also called “invisible diseases.” I feel these illnesses are especially relevant to the average ballet dancer since; The field is dominated by AFABs that frequently gravitate towards dance because of natural flexibility. This correlates to hyper mobility spectrum disorders and connective tissue disorders which are rarely diagnosed, and can lead to serious problems later. AFABs also have higher rates of autoimmune disorders and are most likely to have our pain dismissed, if we are not already hiding it for fear of being seen as unreliable or weak.
The ‘teacher’ in me wants to educate any chance I get. If my shared experiences can help a dancer get a diagnosis, early treatment and a longer, healthier career; why wouldn’t I talk about it?

[@normanklein3155]

Really enjoyed your video. One tip that really helped me (and that you didn't mention) is to NEVER think of turns as left-hand or right-hand turns as that allows students to fall into the excuse (mental trap) of thinking, "well, I'm right-handed (or left-handed), so of course turns to my left (or right) suck". Instead remove this concept of handed turns and think of turns as being clockwise (CW) or counter clockwise (CCW). Once this "handed" excuse is eliminated then students immediately start evening out the quality of their turns, as they don't have an ingrained sense of difference between CW and CCW; they're just turns. The immediate difference is quite noticeable.

[@michaelfitzgerald3467]

You're awesome, Sugar Plum. Such a good instructor, good teacher, and maker of excellent video. Bravo!

[@strongself37]

Very helpful. Thank you 😍

[@Alicja237]

Thanks for this great video💕

[@TansyBlue]

This was very useful, thank you!

[@melindahuntley9873]

I so want to do a good turn, thanks again for your dance stuff/wisdom

[@onceagain569]

Bless you ❤️

[@_ninax1179]

Please make a video about how to get more balance on pointe shoes to stand longer:)

[@evelynwang1513]

very few do tutorials carefully on chaine turns. Could you please give a detailed explanation on the feet in chaine turns?

[@zeena6503]

Can you please do video on each turn?

[@leathaburke]

This is perfect and I think what she needed for now. She is in slippers. She is supposed to turn once. I don't know the words for it all but she is to slide her right foot forward lift like in a number 4 shape with her left and make one rotation and then back down. Does that kind of make sense? She is doing several of the things wrong you mentioned like having her arms back, not moving as a unit and not focusing in front. This definitely will give her a bit to work on...thank you so much.

[@SaltySugarPlum]

whew! okay i'm glad that even this little bit was able to help!!!

[@shireenharoun4423]

Why is easier to turn on point is it because the box gives you the spinning top effect

[@SaltySugarPlum]

theres less friction with the pointe shoe. and also it's a little less work for the calf to stay en pointe. keeping a high relevé in demi point actually requires more work from the calf and ankle to stay up.

[@shireenharoun4423]

@@SaltySugarPlum thanks I'm a great follower of yours as a now adult dancer also could you do a video on en dehor turns vs en dedand watched some one else's video and I'm now confused you are a super teacher very clear

[@SaltySugarPlum]

​@@shireenharoun4423 i'm not sure when i can make a the next video... i will try to explain here: en dehors is an "outside" turn, meaning you turn outward, *away* from the standing leg. for example, in an en dehors pirouette to the right, start with your left foot in front. you will shift your weight onto the left foot for the turn. your body turns towards the right shoulder and you pick up the right leg in the air. the left foot is the one that turns on the floor in releve. en dehors sounds like "open the door" you can think of swinging a door open and turning away from your base ( your standing leg). your body is swinging open, away from the standing leg. en dehors (outside) can feel tricky because you are turning towards the "back" foot and it can feel like you are going backwards. *** en dedans means "inside" turn. you will turn *into* the standing leg (the same direction as the standing leg). for example, in an en dedans pirouette to the right, start with the right foot front. you will shift your weight to the right foot for the turn. your body turns towards the right shoulder, while remaining on the right leg in releve, and you will pick up your left leg in the air. en dedans sounds like "all done" so imagine you are coming back home (coming back inside, to the standing leg) and tucking your body into the inside. en dedans (inside) is generally more comfortable or intuitive to beginners. it feels more natural, especially to children.

[@shireenharoun4423]

@@SaltySugarPlum thanks this was super helpful I'm very touched by your kindness in replying u are a great teacher if you can explain this to a klutz across the globe thank you again for taking the trouble btw yes en dedand are easier so I'm focusing on en dehor turns to improve much love to you xxx