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How to Do a Chaines Turn in Ballet

Whether you have just started taking ballet, or are trying to help your child practice before the big recital, chaines turns are basic two step turns performed in almost every ballet combination. Chaines turns are usually done several times in a row in a single direction, hence the name chaines, which means "chain." Follow these steps and soon you or you child will be "chaines-ing" everywhere!

Things You'll Need

  • Ballet shoes, or shoes with soles that don't stick to the floor
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Instructions

    • 1

      Master and practice spotting. Spotting is the term used for whipping your head around quickly, after your body has already performed the turn. Spotting will keep you from getting dizzy. Practice by facing a mirror, and slowly stepping and turning around yourself. Turn your body, but keep staring at yourself, with your head facing front as long as you can. Whip your head around at the last minute, when you can no longer complete the turn without turning your head.

    • 2

      Facing the mirror, step out with your right foot and look toward the wall to your right (your toes should be facing this wall as well). Pushing off of this foot, step with your left foot, turning your body half way around and facing back, while your head still spots the right wall. Always spot in the direction you are moving!

    • 3

      Push off of your left foot, and step onto your right foot, turning your body back around to the front. You head should of course turn after the rest of your body. You should now be back in the starting position.

    • 4

      Be sure you hold your abdominal muscles (also called your core) in tight. This is called keeping your center (helping you keep your balance and control). Try the turn again, this time on releve (on your toes). Do not put your heels down.

    • 5

      Use your arms to help you turn. When you step out to the right to begin the turn hold you arms straight out to the sides (second position). As you step out with your left foot, bring your arms in meeting your fingertips together (first position). Your arms should look like you are holding a big beach ball. As you step again to return to the starting position, open your arms up again.

    • 6

      Complete the chaines turn after the first two steps. You will eventually do many chaines turns quickly in a row, so stepping out to your original position is actually the first step of the next turn. If you do chaines turns quickly, keep your arms in the entire time. You will not have time to open and close again and again. To do chaines turns to the left, repeat all of the steps in the opposite direction, stepping out to the left with your left foot first.

Ballet

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