piroette help! ASAP!!!

[dancerfreak5678]

I need help with my piroettes. Before I could do double or triples but now all of a sudden I can barely do 1!!! I might be distracted since there is so much going on in my life. It's really weird. My dance partner is experiencing the same thing altough we dance @ different studios. She thinks its because of a dusty floor but I can't do them anywhere! My room, the studio, @ school. . . . nowhere. My mom says its all in my head but I try to be positive and I still can't do them. I think I might have weak ankles since I come onto a flat foot after the first piroette. If anyone could suggest ankle strengthening exercises that would be great. I'm starting to take tums to build up my calcium. My center might also be off since I lose my balance in piroettes and I don't do crunches often since I switched jazz classes. If anyone could help please do!!!! I'm way behind in my classes because of this huge problem. So please . . .


!!!!!HELP!!!!!

[SwinginBoo]

I've never taken ballet(though it has been a great desire of mine since I was quite young). For the ankles I roll my feet around in circles, the same way you would do with your neck. I do 20 full rotations in each direction. This helps not only to strengthen your ankles, but also to help them losen up preventing the chance of rolling over and twisting them. (I do this before I run and dance.) I hope this helps.

As far as losing your balance goes...are you drinking enough water throughout the day, getting enough rest, eating enough? You'd be surprised at how much these simple things can factor into it.

Balance takes time to develop. As I said before, I'm not a ballet dancer, but I remember a time when I struggled a bit with balance. It's the sort of thing that can take time to develop. But you had danced before correct? So I'm sure you just need to practice and it will all come back to you. No worries. :wink:

[dancersdreamland]

Another way to help with balance in by tightening your abs and buns...you'd be suprised how much these muscles work when you're turning. Trying situps and crunches to tighten the abs and alternating lunges for your buns.