Pivot turns
- Thread starter wingnut
- Start date
Ay -yi- yi, wingnut, this is a tough one to describe in words.
Here's the definition from ballroomdancers.com
Means absolutely nothing without a visual, right? I'lll browse around on the web and see if I can find you a visual. There are actually a few contexts in which the term pivot is used, so I'll look for a few visuals. Might be tough, but I'll look.
btw, welcome to the forums.
Here's the definition from ballroomdancers.com
ballroomdancers.com said:
Means absolutely nothing without a visual, right? I'lll browse around on the web and see if I can find you a visual. There are actually a few contexts in which the term pivot is used, so I'll look for a few visuals. Might be tough, but I'll look.
btw, welcome to the forums.
Still looking for video clips of pivots in tango, but in the meanwhile, I found this cool page, which shows a pivot in waltz, done by amateur dancers. Take a look at the even more slow waltz clip. There's a pivot in the middle of that one. It looks like the woman steps right between the man's legs, locks her thigh onto his, and they turn around each other quickly. Watch a couple times -- I think you can find it. Edit: Try the first standard waltz clip. The pivot is right at the beginning, so it's easier to see. 8)
http://www.ballroomeast.com/Videos/Videos.htm
There are a couple other instances of pivots I can think of. A military turn is sometimes called a pivot -- think marching soldiers who step forward onto a foot, then make a quick 180 degree turn -- that's a military turn or a pivot.
Then there are pivot turns where you basically spin with your forward leg locked into place -- your thighs stay connected the whole time you're spinning.
http://www.ballroomeast.com/Videos/Videos.htm
There are a couple other instances of pivots I can think of. A military turn is sometimes called a pivot -- think marching soldiers who step forward onto a foot, then make a quick 180 degree turn -- that's a military turn or a pivot.
Then there are pivot turns where you basically spin with your forward leg locked into place -- your thighs stay connected the whole time you're spinning.
Thanks everyone! I do some ballroom-- Waltze, Foxtrot, Swing, Cha Cha, Mambo & TANGO are my favorites. However with my work schedule I haven't done as much as I like the last couple of years. So my wife and I decided this looked like a lot of fun !! This forum is great - a lot of inciteful q&a !! Hope to be jumping in on the threads with you. I can never learn too much :lol: :lol:
SDsalsaguy
Administrator
Thanks wingnut, and welcome to the Forums!wingnut said:
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MacMoto
Active Member
Hi wingnut,
I've found a couple of older threads discussing pivot turns -- I wonder if these might help.
Pivots
Pivoting?
The second one is from the salsa forum (my natural habitat
).
I have no idea if the salsa pivot turn is the same as the AT pivot turn, but I've started watching Edie the SalsaFreak's spins video the other day, and there is a section where the pivot turn is explained. This is in relation to a crossbody lead with a left turn, where the follower makes a 1 1/2 turn travelling forward. Edie talks about putting one foot (in this case the left foot) in front of the other with the legs slightly crossed and thighs locked together (stick a sheet of paper between your thighs to practise this) as you make a half turn on the left foot, half turn on the right and another half turn on the left. At least, I think that's what she said (I need to watch the video again...).
Is this similar to the tango pivot?
I've found a couple of older threads discussing pivot turns -- I wonder if these might help.
Pivots
Pivoting?
The second one is from the salsa forum (my natural habitat
).I have no idea if the salsa pivot turn is the same as the AT pivot turn, but I've started watching Edie the SalsaFreak's spins video the other day, and there is a section where the pivot turn is explained. This is in relation to a crossbody lead with a left turn, where the follower makes a 1 1/2 turn travelling forward. Edie talks about putting one foot (in this case the left foot) in front of the other with the legs slightly crossed and thighs locked together (stick a sheet of paper between your thighs to practise this) as you make a half turn on the left foot, half turn on the right and another half turn on the left. At least, I think that's what she said (I need to watch the video again...).
Is this similar to the tango pivot?
You could use the kind of pivot turn Edie describes in tango. And there's also another pivot used in tango, similar to the one in the video clips earlier in this thread. I wish I understood why they're all named the same thing -- I think it has something to do with which foot the weight is over. But I could be wrong.
bordertangoman
Well-Known Member
I don't understnd the question: a pivot is a pivot
1. you turn on one foot: weight over the ball of the foot heel off the ground
2. It is done forward or backwards cw or ccw
3. Other foot is close to standing leg uless you are doing a lapiz.
4. the amount of turn is dependent on the lead from the man (eg he can walk you round through 360 degrees if he chooses)
5. the hips and chest move with a degree of independence through twisting in the waist.
6. You don't fall over. Balance and Control is everything.
1. you turn on one foot: weight over the ball of the foot heel off the ground
2. It is done forward or backwards cw or ccw
3. Other foot is close to standing leg uless you are doing a lapiz.
4. the amount of turn is dependent on the lead from the man (eg he can walk you round through 360 degrees if he chooses)
5. the hips and chest move with a degree of independence through twisting in the waist.
6. You don't fall over. Balance and Control is everything.
Yup. Kinda what I thought. Although there are many variations, there's a common element that makes a pivot a pivot. And, if I understand what you're saying, it's the way a turn is made and where the weight is that makes it a pivot.
The deceptive thing is that, in motion, different pivots do look very different. I guess I need to look more closely, to see the common element. :?
The deceptive thing is that, in motion, different pivots do look very different. I guess I need to look more closely, to see the common element. :?
Just for kicks, I'm going to watch my Heather Smith pivot technique video this evening when I get home. Should be interesting, now that I have a new perspective -- looking for the commonality, rather than the differences. Will watch, then report back. 8)
And oh yeah, while we're at it, could somebody explain pivoting action?
And oh yeah, while we're at it, could somebody explain pivoting action?