Why Alignment Is the Secret Behind Consistent Pirouettes
By Bethany Marc‑Aurele | Ballet MarcAurele Coaching
If you’ve ever been told to “pull up” or “spot” during a pirouette without fully understanding why, you might be wondering why consistency still eludes you.
Most dancers are taught what to do in a pirouette—but not why it matters. They’re told to pull up, spot, and keep their retiré connected. But without a deep understanding of alignment and mechanics, those corrections don’t stick.
The truth is: if a dancer doesn’t understand how their own body functions, consistency will always be a struggle.
Alignment First—Always
Before you even push off the floor, the body has to be properly organized. The pelvis must be level, the ribs stacked over the hips, the spine upright, and the rotation clearly active through the legs.
Misalignments like rib flare, a tilted pelvis, or a bent standing leg disrupt the turn before it even starts. And these small misalignments—sometimes just a few degrees—completely shift the dancer’s center of mass. That’s why even a slightly turned‑in retiré or an uneven shoulder can throw off the entire pirouette.
In my coaching, I always reinforce: alignment is about more than just being in the right position—it’s about creating a structure that supports movement and technique effectively.
Strength Training: The Foundation for Stability and Power
Strength training is essential for executing consistent pirouettes. Without the necessary muscle strength, control, and balance, maintaining proper technique throughout the turn becomes challenging.
The spine is the center of the body, and it only makes sense that it must be straight and aligned for successful pirouettes. A strong, aligned back is crucial for maintaining stability and control. I have yet to see a dancer with rolled shoulders or an arched or rounded back perform a clean, controlled turn. When the spine is properly aligned and engaged, it supports the entire body, ensuring balance and precision throughout the turn.
In addition to a strong back, core and leg strength are equally important. The core stabilizes your center of mass, while strong legs provide the power for takeoff and smooth landings. Ankle and foot strength also play a key role in control and maintaining pointed feet during the turn.
Incorporating strength training into your routine activates these muscles, helping you maintain proper alignment and stability. When your core, back, legs, and feet are strong and properly aligned, you’ll have the foundation needed for clean pirouettes and improved technique. With solid strength, you can focus on perfecting the finer details of your turns instead of worrying about losing control.
Turned‑In vs. Turned‑Out: Same Concept, Different Rules
Parallel and turned‑out pirouettes use the same principles—but they require different setups.
In a turned‑out pirouette, the centerline shifts slightly, and the turnout must be active through the entire rotation. I always tell my dancers: “Pretend your back heel is opening a pickle jar.” That cue helps them activate rotation from the floor up—pressing the heel into the ground while spiraling the back knee outward. It keeps the turnout alive, not just placed.
Equally important: the front heel must stay forward. Dancers often don’t think about moving the front heel forward, or they lack the strength or cueing to do it. When the front heel is pulled back or rolled inward, the knee drops, the turnout collapses, and the pelvis shifts. Now the dancer is fighting against their own setup.
That front heel should press forward and down into the floor, maintaining external rotation and grounding the centerline. When both feet are active—back heel spiraling open, front heel forward and stable—you’ve built a solid base for the turn, and you’ve also created stability because of the positional energy.
Spotting and Rhythm: The Invisible Power
Spotting is often treated as a surface correction. But in reality, it’s your rhythm regulator. If the rhythm of the spot is inconsistent—so is the turn. Just like the plié, the arms, and the spine, the spot has to follow a rhythmic pattern for the body to respond with stability.
Sometimes I watch dancers spot and set up, and it looks disconnected. The motion should flow in one direction, not be erratic. I tell my dancers: “Don’t look like a washing machine. You want to go in the same direction like a blender.” When the spotting rhythm and the body’s setup are aligned, the turn becomes smoother and more controlled.
Before I allow my dancers to start pirouettes, I have them learn how to do clean chaîne turns. A well‑executed chaîne teaches them how to spot properly, as it forces them to focus on maintaining a steady, controlled head movement and rhythm as well as coordinated the body with the spot. The smooth, consistent flow of the chaîne helps them establish the spotting technique needed for a pirouette. Without mastering this first, their spot will often feel disconnected from the rest of the movement.
Understanding the Physics
You don’t need a physics degree to improve your pirouettes—but knowing a few principles changes everything.
Torque = the force that gets you into the turn, generated from a deep, grounded plié.
Center of Mass = what must stay over your supporting leg to maintain stability.
Moment of Inertia = how pulling the arms in affects rotation speed.
Friction = why control in the foot and floor connection matters.
If dancers understood these basics earlier, we could prevent so much frustration in later years of training.
Technique Before Tricks
One of the biggest problems I see? Dancers being asked to perform turns they’ve never trained properly in class.
They are choreographed attitude turns, arabesque turns, even transitions between parallel and turned‑out—but haven’t built the foundation. They don’t even have a clean single pirouette in retiré. So in private lessons, we have to go backwards—way back—and rebuild from scratch. This slows down the private because of the lack of technique and fundamentals.
Let me be clear: Stop giving energy for six turns when you can’t land one cleanly. What impresses me isn’t the number of turns, but the execution of a single pirouette that’s aligned, balanced, and controlled. Dancers often try to generate momentum by over‑prepping their arms, twisting their torso, and spinning without a clear connection to their center. That’s not technique—that’s carelessness. That’s not a pirouette, it’s just a spin, a trick.
Over‑prepping doesn’t make you look advanced—it makes you look out of control. If the upper and lower body aren’t working in harmony, you’ll end up wobbling or falling out of the turn, unable to land cleanly. And no judge or audience will remember how many rotations you did—just how you finished.
I’d rather see one solid turn you can repeat a hundred times than six that barely get off the ground.
Clarity. Control. Consistency. That’s what should be built in technique classes, and that’s what we build in my classes.
This shouldn’t be left to solo rehearsal time. These mechanics need to be taught early and reinforced in class, so dancers aren’t left guessing under pressure.
Final Thoughts
Pirouettes reveal everything—alignment, control, rhythm, focus.
If you’re struggling with consistency, it’s not about turning more. It’s about turning smarter—with the right alignment, an understanding of how your body works, and a rhythm that supports balance.
TIP
So, first work on your alignment, next chaine turns for spotting, then progressions. After that, put it all together and start with a single turn and clean landing. From there, add an extra spot and a deeper plié for two, then three, and so on. Good luck, I hope this helps!!
Want help refining your pirouettes or teaching this in your studio?
I offer private coaching and workshops focused on building better turns from the ground up. Send me a message to start your journey to better technique!
The Secret to Higher Extensions: Why Stretching Alone Isn’t Enough
Every dancer dreams of effortlessly lifting their leg into a beautiful extension—one that floats and holds without gripping or tension. But here’s the truth: higher extensions do NOT come from just stretching more. In fact, the secret lies deeper—within your alignment, nervous system, fascia, and muscle activation patterns.
As I work toward my Level 1 Teacher Training Certification under Lisa Howell, a leading dance physiotherapist and creator of The Ballet Blog, I’ve gained powerful insight into how the body truly functions—and why so many dancers hit a plateau when it comes to extension and turnout.
Alignment: The Foundation of Freedom
Without proper alignment, your body cannot function efficiently. If the ribs are flared, the pelvis is tucked or tilted, or the spine is unstable, you create compensations that limit movement. When alignment is off, your supporting leg struggles to stabilize, your turnout is blocked, and your working leg can’t move freely.
Even more importantly, the nervous system interprets misalignment as instability or threat, which means it will limit your range to protect you. You might feel “tight” no matter how much you stretch—because your body simply doesn’t feel safe going there.
Fascia: The Missing Link in Mobility
Inside the body is a network called the fascia system—a continuous web of connective tissue that wraps around muscles, bones, and organs. It affects everything from flexibility and strength to proprioception and coordination. When fascia is restricted or dehydrated, it limits your ability to move with ease and efficiency.
Before dancers can access true strength and control in an extension, tight fascia must first be mobilized. This is why fascia release, hydration, and low-load dynamic movement are so important—especially for dancers who feel “stuck” even with strong technique.
In my training with Lisa Howell, I’ve learned that fascia and muscular systems respond best when we follow this four-step progression:
Mobilize → Isolate → Integrate → Function
Think of this as baking a cake—you can’t skip steps or rush the process:
Mobilize – Release tension, hydrate fascia, and free up the joints.
Isolate – Wake up small stabilizing muscles (core, multifidus, deep hip).
Integrate – Link those muscles into larger patterns like turnout or développés.
Function – Apply it in class and choreography with control, grace, and freedom.
Skipping this process often leads to compensations, gripping, and injuries. True progress takes time, intention, and education.
Passive vs. Active Flexibility: Know the Difference
There’s a significant difference between holding your leg up with your hand and lifting it on your own. The first is passive flexibility—you have the range, but not the control. The second is active flexibility, which requires deep strength, alignment, and neuromuscular coordination.
True extension comes when the body learns to support and lift the leg from the inside out—using the right muscles, at the right time.
Stabilizers vs. Movers: Let Each Do Its Job
One of the most important distinctions dancers must learn is between stabilizers and movers. Your hip flexors can initiate a leg lift—but they aren’t designed to hold it at height. When dancers overuse them, it leads to tightness, fatigue, and injury.
Instead, the deep stabilizing muscles—like the multifidus (in the spine), deep abdominals, and smaller hip rotators—must be trained to support and sustain. These are the muscles that keep your pelvis level and your working leg free.
When you activate stabilizers properly, your extensions feel lifted, supported, and almost effortless.
Want to Experience This Kind of Training?
At my training facility, I help dancers take their training beyond the surface. It’s not just about stretching or repeating exercises—it’s about making smart connections between your fascia, alignment, strength, and technique.
I work with dancers in a layered progression:
We start on the reformer to align, mobilize, and awaken key stabilizers.
Then we move to the mat for core-focused integration and patterning.
And finally to the studio floor, where everything connects to functional ballet technique.
And sometimes, if the fascia is too restricted or the muscles are holding on, we go to the table for manual releases or fascia cupping, allowing the body to reset and move more freely. This whole-body approach teaches dancers how to feel the difference—and carry it into their dancing with power and grace.
Whether you're working on extension, turnout, strength, or injury prevention, I meet each dancer where they are and guide them step by step.
Spots are limited, but I love working with focused, driven dancers who are ready to go deeper.
Embrace Your Dance Journey: Mastering Technique and Overcoming Comparison
In the world of dance, it’s all too common to fall into the trap of comparing ourselves to others. Whether it’s during class or on stage, we often find ourselves measuring our progress against those around us. This comparison can create a toxic mindset that limits our potential. Today, I want to share how focusing on technique and celebrating your own unique journey can help you overcome these comparisons and unlock your true potential.
Build a Strong Foundation with Technique
From my earliest days as a dancer, I learned that technique is the cornerstone of progress. I still vividly remember auditioning for a summer intensive when I was almost a teen and being placed in a class with eight-year-olds because my training and technique were so far behind. That eye-opening experience compelled me to focus on mastering the fundamentals of dance. Today, I’m passionate about ensuring my students build a solid technical foundation from the very beginning. Mastering the basics isn’t about imitating someone else’s style—it’s about constructing a sturdy base that supports every plie, leap, pirouette, and jump. By investing in your technique, you gain the confidence and fluidity needed to overcome any challenge on your dance journey
Navigating the Competitive World of Dance
The competitive world of dance can sometimes leave us feeling inadequate. I experienced that pressure when I left home at 15 to train at a better studio in another state with more experienced dancers and educators. During this chapter of my life I worked tirelessly playing catch-up, hoping to be noticed, only to face rejection or heartbreak when opportunities slipped away. From my early training through college, auditions and into my professional career, these setbacks—painful as they were—taught me that every challenge is a chance to grow. They showed me that the most meaningful progress comes from dancing for yourself, not for external validation.
Shifting the Mindset: You Are Not Less Than
It’s easy to fall into the trap of comparing yourself to others, but that can hold you back from reaching your full potential. When you measure your worth against someone else’s performance, you lose sight of your own progress. Instead of chasing after someone else’s achievements, focus on outdoing the dancer you were yesterday—your journey is about becoming the best version of yourself.
While aspects like body type, bone structure, flexibility, and turnout can be enhanced with extra time and effort, your true confidence and self-worth come from within. These inner qualities are built through self-love, care, and consistent work.
Embracing Your Unique Path and Inspiration Over Comparison
Remember that every dancer has a unique journey. Instead of viewing your peers as competition, see them as a source of inspiration. Healthy competition, when approached with the right mindset, can be a powerful catalyst for growth. Rather than comparing yourself negatively to others, use their achievements as motivation. Let their skills encourage you to try new techniques and push your limits—not as a measure of your shortcomings, but as a way to enhance your own dance. By celebrating their successes as part of a shared passion for dance, you help create a supportive environment that fosters growth for everyone.
Actionable Steps to Grow and Overcome Comparison
Invest in Your Technique: Dedicate time to mastering the fundamentals. Every practice session is a chance to build a stronger foundation.
Focus on Personal Progress: Set goals that challenge you to improve your own skills, not to match someone else’s level.
Cultivate a Growth Mindset: Remind yourself that every setback is a lesson, and every small victory is a step toward your future self.
Build Positive Relationships: Engage with fellow dancers. Share tips, celebrate successes, and support each others growth.
Utilize Available Resources: Consider using goal-setting guides, habit trackers, gratitude apps, or inspirational plans to help maintain a positive, forward-focused mindset.
Reflective Questions for Self-Growth
Take a moment to ponder these questions, which can help shift your focus from comparison to personal progress:
What does mastering my technique mean to me, and how have the fundamentals improved my dance?
How can I redefine success to reflect my own progress rather than seeking validation from others?
When I’m tempted to compare myself to another dancer, what steps can I take to center my focus on my unique journey?
What lessons have I learned from past setbacks, and how can I use those experiences to fuel my growth and passion for dance?
How can I turn the skills and achievements of my peers into inspiration to enhance my own dance, rather than as a yardstick for my shortcomings?
Every time you step into the studio, remember that your journey is uniquely yours. By dedicating yourself to improving your technique and focusing on your own personal growth, you build the resilience and skills needed to thrive not by comparing yourself to others, but by competing with your own potential. So, stop comparing yourself to the dancer next to you or to the dancer with a higher extension. Focus on honing your own technique and pushing your limits, and the progress you seek will follow.
Keep dancing, keep growing, and always celebrate your progress. ~Miss Bethany
The Art of REST: Navigating a Dancers Holiday Break and Returning to Class
As dancers, we thrive in the rhythm of the studio, constantly pushing our limits to achieve excellence. But the holiday break provides us with a rare and valuable pause. It’s a time to rest, recover, and recharge—not just physically, but mentally and emotionally too. However, returning to the studio after this downtime can feel challenging, both for students and teachers alike. Here’s how I help my students navigate this transition while maintaining their love for dance.
Why Rest Is Vital for Dancers
The intensity of dance training means our bodies and minds need regular recovery periods to stay healthy and strong. Time off allows muscles to repair, fatigue to dissipate, and creativity to be reignited. Without rest, overuse injuries and burnout can quickly creep in.
That said, rest doesn’t mean completely disengaging. Gentle movement, like yoga, stretching, or walks, can keep your body primed without the wear and tear of rigorous training.
The Importance of a Gradual Return
When my students return to class after the holidays, I take a deliberate approach to ease them back into their routine. My classes are notoriously challenging—I push my students to work hard, build stamina, and surpass their limits. But after a break, it’s all about balance.
The first week back is intentionally slower. This gives their bodies and minds a chance to readjust, ensuring they feel supported while still being challenged. We focus on rebuilding technique, flexibility, and alignment before ramping up intensity. It’s like warming up an engine before a race—you have to ease into it to prevent unnecessary strain.
How I Guide My Students Through the Transition
1. Set the Tone for Success
I remind my students that feeling a little off or out of shape after a break is completely normal. We use this time to focus on precision and foundational work rather than full-out performances.
2. Emphasize Proper Warm-Up
Our warm-ups during the first week back are longer and more deliberate. This helps prevent injury and gives everyone time to reconnect with their bodies.
3. Build Momentum Gradually
By the second or third class of the week, we begin reintroducing the more intense elements of my classes. Each day is a step forward, gradually reawakening strength and endurance.
4. Encourage Reflection and Patience
I encourage my students to set goals and reflect on their progress, but I also emphasize patience. Progress doesn’t happen overnight—it’s a journey that starts with consistent, intentional work.
Why Rest Makes Us Better Dancers
Rest is a gift that allows us to return to the studio with renewed energy and focus. It’s part of the cycle of growth that makes us stronger artists and athletes. For my students, the holiday break is an opportunity to reconnect with their love for dance, and my goal is to guide them back into the studio in a way that feels empowering, not overwhelming.
To all dancers (and teachers) reading this: honor your need for rest, embrace the process of rebuilding, and trust that your hard work will pay off. The artistry and strength you bring to the studio after a break are a testament to the power of balance in our craft.
-Bethany Marc-Aurele
Beyond the Spotlight: Integrating Ballet Technique into Competitive Dance
Bethany Marc-Aurele
Bridging the Gap: Connecting Ballet Technique with the Competition World
In the competitive dance world, it's easy to get caught up in the excitement of flashy costumes, eye-catching choreography, and the rush of winning awards. But as a ballet coach deeply rooted in the art of technique, I believe there’s more to dance than just the glitter and trophies. My mission is to bring the precision and discipline of ballet into the competition world, helping dancers not only stand out on stage but also grow as true artists who are passionate about their craft.
The Importance of Ballet Technique in Competitive Dance
Ballet is often seen as the foundation of all dance forms. Its emphasis on alignment, strength, and control provides dancers with the tools they need to excel in any genre. When these fundamental skills are applied to competitive dance, the result is a dancer who is not just performing but truly embodying the art of dance.
In the competition world, where routines are often fast-paced and demanding, a strong technical foundation can make all the difference. It allows dancers to execute complex movements with grace and precision, making their performances not just impressive but memorable. But more importantly, it instills in them a deep understanding of their bodies and how to use them effectively—skills that will serve them well beyond the competition stage.
Moving Beyond the Glitz and Glamour
While costumes and awards are undeniably exciting aspects of the competition world, they should never overshadow the real essence of dance. Having trained as a ballet dancer, I know firsthand the hours spent refining technique in the studio, performing only a handful of times. When I stepped on stage, my technique didn’t require thought—it was ingrained because of the hard work put in during studio time. That’s where true growth happens.
When I attend competitions, it can be difficult to watch dancers struggle on stage, not because they lack potential, but because their focus has been more on rehearsing choreography than refining the technical foundation that supports it. Technique should be second nature, developed through the hours at the barre, focusing on alignment, strength, and conditioning. Without this balance, dancers are not only bound to struggle on stage, but are more prone to injuries.
I understand the excitement of winning trophies and wearing beautiful costumes, but there is so much more to dance than the spotlight and accolades. It’s about the entire process—the dedication, the discipline, and the time invested in developing technical skills. When dancers truly invest in their training, the time they spend on stage becomes even more rewarding, not because of the trophies, but because they’ve mastered their craft and performed with confidence and ease.
Creating Well-Rounded Dancers
By integrating ballet technique and strength training into their training, I help competitive dancers become well-rounded performers who are not only technically strong but also deeply connected to their craft. This approach encourages them to see beyond the superficial aspects of competition and focus on what truly matters: their love for dance and the hard work they put into every performance.
In the end, the goal isn’t just to win awards—it’s to cultivate a lifelong passion for dance. A passion fueled by dedication, discipline, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. When dancers approach competition with this mindset, they don’t just perform—they leave a lasting impression on every audience and judge they encounter.
Conclusion
As a coach, my greatest joy comes from watching dancers embrace both the artistry and discipline of dance, in any form. By bridging the gap between technique and performance, I strive to make my dancers strong, confident, and technically seamless, allowing them to fully enjoy the fleeting moments they have on stage. My goal is to ensure that when they perform, they’re pouring their heart and love into every movement, rather than worrying about technique or nailing that double or triple turn.
I want my dancers to step on stage knowing their foundation is strong, so they can focus on connecting with the audience and judges. And as they move on from competitions into the next phase of their lives, whether pursuing a professional career in dance or exploring new opportunities, they’ll carry with them the strength, discipline, and passion that can take them to the next level.