Pirouettes and leaps?

Question:I haven't been dancing too long but I'm noticing that some days my left pirouette is perfect while my right one is going lopsided and horrible but then another day my right one is perfect and my left one is horrible. Is this normal for unexperienced dancers? Are there any tips to get perfect pirouettes?

Also, any tips for better and higher leaps? I can do the splits but I can't seem to do them in the air.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I haven't been dancing too long but I'm noticing that some days my left pirouette is perfect while my right one is going lopsided and horrible but then another day my right one is perfect and my left one is horrible. Is this normal for unexperienced dancers? Are there any tips to get perfect pirouettes?

Also, any tips for better and higher leaps? I can do the splits but I can't seem to do them in the air.

i know exactly what you are talking about because i have been having the same issue. what i can tell you is that if you keep working hard and continue to practice at home then you will eventually perfect them. so lets make it you and i's new years resolution to pull perfect pirouettes. one thing to work on is that when you land, always remember to force your heal down and sink your plie as much as possible. (without falling into your plie. lol.) i wish you the best of luck with your pirouettes and try not to get frustrated with them...i have learned that if you get frustrated, you tense up and it totally throws you off. so have fun and i wish you the best! happy dancing!!!

As far as your turns, some days are definitley better than others, focus on pulling every thing over your center and turning, not spinning. As far as leaps the key is your prep the deeper and more elasticized the more force you can push off with.

hmmm i think that your pirouette problem is pretty normal, i've been dancing for a loooong time and i have those days. we all have a side that we're most comfortable turning on [for me its my left] but, since we try to work harder on our lacking side, sometimes it can be better, even if we don't feel totally comfortable with it.

and then we have those days where you can't turn at all. =]

anyways, in regards to your leaps, make sure 1. you jump really high [you can improve that by really strengthening your thighs] 2. you're completely warmed up 3. try to be relaxed- if your tensed up, you won't have enough room in your hips to let them go higher, but at the same time, don't be so relaxed that you're lazy and lose your technique.

hope i helped! =]

Some times, people tend to favor one leg over another, you're not balanced enough.

yes its normal just practice! and as for leaps....just because you can do the splits doesn't mean you have the power and strenght to do an awesome split leap. so work on strength since you already have the flexibility down. make sure you control your arms while in the air, too. take a big sashay, then step step leap. i think that's the best and easiest entrance into a leap. If you're doing brush leaps, think of your leg as just think of your leg as whipping straight up off the floor in one powerful motion. for develope you still need to whip your leg out but you extend it straight while in the air. I don't know if this will make sense but i really hope it helps! remember the key to getting higher leaps is more power!!

Well... we all have bad turning days and that has happened to me sometimes and i have been dancing for 10 years but i do have advice... when you do your pirouettes, you need to spring up and squeez all of your muscels... good luck!