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How to make a dance turn board


5 Safe and Effective Ways To Use A Spin Board

Spin boards, or Turn Boards were actually created for ice skaters, not ballet or jazz dancers. Dancers  on the ice need to be used to spinning very quickly on a flat foot, and maintaining their balance, whereas dancers who work on relevé in a shoe have a totally different alignment required for their turn.

What does this mean for your pirouettes?

It means that if you're practicing your dance turns on a spin board, you're doing more harm than help.

  • Spin boards give the dancer Centrifugal force, rather than opposition.
  • Spin boards make the dancer turn fast, which is not good turning (good turns are slow and controlled).
  • Spin boards train the dancer to spot too quickly, and the dancer can't break the spot down into the 3 specific parts that are necessary for a good spot! (Did you know there are 3 parts to a spot? More on that later!)

But that doesn't mean they're useless! Here are 5 great exercises to do with a spin board that will make a HUGE difference in your technique.

One last note - Spin boards can be great ways for dancers to learn to do more than 6 pirouettes. But they should not be used for turns before you have 4 or 5 turns consistently! That means every time you try for 5, you nail it. When you can't hit 6 or 7, that's when I'd pull out a spin board.

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#1 - Basic exercise - Activation of the Piriformis
This exercise helps dancers find their piriformis, or their "seat." The muscle is a very small muscle under the pelvis, and is the supporting muscle for maintaining turnout. When your teacher says "Squeeze your butt," she's talking about the piriformis.

  1. Begin standing on 2 spin boards in parallel position (feet apart, hip width).
  2. Demi plié with the tailbone down, and activate the seat. You should feel like you're trying to turn your hip knobs, but don't allow yourself to actually turn. You are now activating the piriformis).
  3. Stretch the knees straight, maintaining the activation in the piriformis and the length of the tailbone.
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#2 - Movement exercise - Rotation of the Hip

This helps dancers feel where rotation comes from, how to properly turn out without cheating, and how to use the piriformis (as mentioned above) to maintain and keep their rotation while dancing. It is eye-opening to say the least!

  1. Begin standing on 2 spin boards in parallel position. 
  2. Rotate the legs, slowly, to 90 degrees. 
  3. Feel yourself hold and maintain the rotation without letting it slip. When you can do this, increase the rotation of your hip until you feel that you've reached your full range of motion. Check that the tailbone is lengthened (note, not "tucked!" just lengthened.) 
  4. Demi plié in your full rotation, and stretch the legs straight, maintaining the rotation.
  5. Control your legs back to parallel position (i.e. don't just let them go back - be in charge of the turning of the knobs back to parallel).

    #3 - Before You Learn To Turn - Deep Lateral Rotator Exercise 

    This should be a requirement for all dancers before they learn to do a pirouette. If you cannot maintain the position stable, how are you going to maintain it while moving?

    1. Begin in parallel position on one spin board, with the other foot in retiré.
    2. Turn out the working leg, keeping the standing leg stable and not letting it rotate (engaging the seat), then rotating back to parallel.
    3. Turn out the standing leg, keeping the working leg stable, and return to parallel.
    4. Turn out both legs, and return to parallel. 
    5. When students can do this with strength and control, repeat the exercise in relevé.  

      If the student is majorly struggling with this exercise, ask them to do it in sur le coups de pied instead of retiré.





      #4 - Spotting - Partner Spot

      This is awesome for students who are ready to turn, but who struggle with a correct and effective spot. 

      1. Have the dancer begin in retire or sur le coups de pied, in a rotated and turned out position. The arms can be in 1st, 2nd, or on shoulders.
      2. The partner should check that the dancer is flat and in good alignment (advanced dancers can execute this on relevé).
      3. The student should look straight forward at themselves in the mirror. The teacher or assistant should hold the dancer's hands or arms and begin to move the dancer as if they were doing a pirouette. The dancer should keep their eyes and chin pointed towards themselves in the mirror the whole time.
      4. When the dancer has reached the extent of their neck range of motion, begin turning the dancer back around the other direction.  

        Advanced version:

        Once the student can sufficiently "Leave the head," they can begin practicing a spot in the same position. move the dancer to a quarter turn, let go of the dancer, and allow them to spot their head in order to get around. It is important that the teacher does not push or turn the dancer - stop the dancer a little past the quarter turn position, and let go! The dancer will then spot their head, find their eyes in the mirror again, and maintain balance. 

        5. Rotation and Balance - Promenade 

        This is a highly advanced exercise designed for teaching students to execute promenade correctly, but also helps strengthen the muscles in the ankles, and improve balance.


        1. Begin in a turned out sur le coups de pied or retiré position.
        2. Working slowly, do a promenade around by turning out the standing leg and allowing the spin board to move. (This is an en de dans promenade).
        3. If you are sufficient in the en de dans promenade, you can try an en de hors promenade, which is much harder on the spin board! You'll have to be fully in control of your rotation and your body.

          Bonus Ideas!

          • Do your pliés on 2 spin boards, rotating every time you plié and relevé, and trying to maintain your rotation. Make sure your turnout isn't coming from your ankles!
          • Work through this releve combination on 2 spin boards for extra burn in your turnout.
          • Do a simple adagio in the center on your spin board. (a series of developpes, rond de jambe en l'air, and promenades work great for this).

          What other things can you do with a spin board besides spin?

          Photo credit: kcdsTM via Visual Hunt / CC BY

          ‎TurnBoard Pro on the App Store

          Description

          IMPORTANT: The TurnBoard PRO app requires the use of the TurnBoard PRO (device sold separately).

          The TurnBoard PRO contains a special built-in sensor which measures a dancer's turning performance, and then provides the dancer with feedback and a unique Turn Score. To begin, simply pair the TurnBoard PRO with the app via Bluetooth. As you turn on the TurnBoard PRO, the app measures your turns, speed and form, then automatically calculates your personal Turn Score. Turn Scores range from 1-1,000; the higher the score, the better the turns. Learn with instant feedback, and track your improvement from week to week. Compete with friends, share your Turn Score, and watch your turns improve!

          The TurnBoard PRO helps dancers analyze and improve their turns. Connect. Turn. Learn.

          What's your Turn Score? Turn like a PRO with the TurnBoard PRO.

          Version 1.5

          This app has been updated by Apple to display the Apple Watch app icon.

          Minor bug fixes.

          Ratings and Reviews

          44 Ratings

          Great Training Tool!

          Wow, what a humbling experience after trying out for the first time. I thought was All That and a bag of chips. Well, I have some room to improve. This product, when paired w/the Turnboard PRO model is the ultimate test of your balance, strength and stamina. The app is extremely accurate, which is important. This isn’t just a game, although it does feel that way because it’s so fun, it’s a way to boost performance.

          Have fun, get fit, and challenge your friends to beat your score!

          Mind blowing!!!

          I had the original version of the turnboard and loved it for my niece. She's an aspiring dancer and is really in love with the art of dance. She was having issues with her turns so I saw this and got it for her. After I saw how much she improved with the original, I figured with new version that keeps them motivated with keeping there stats would give her that extra motivation to make that next step. It's one of the best products for that little dancer in your life.

          One Problem

          It is Amazing but if I get like 50 turns at speed 2.0 and I slow dow on my last turn, it says my speed for my last turn and not how my speed was most of the time. It gives me a low turn score when it could have been really high. Bet other than that it is really good and helps a lot.

          The developer, Gopi Corporation, indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below.

          Data Not Collected

          The developer does not collect any data from this app.

          Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More

          Information

          Seller
          Gopi Corporation

          Size
          11.1 MB

          Category
          Entertainment

          Age Rating
          4+

          Copyright
          © 2017 Gopi Corp.

          Price
          Free

          • App Support

          More By This Developer

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          Repair of the floor in the dance hall: photo, do-it-yourself

          It is important for a dancer not only to learn how to dance, but also to have a stable and reliable surface under their feet. And the floor in this case plays a paramount role, since it is one of the main elements of any dance hall. It is important that floors are non-slip, comfortable to avoid injury and damage. Therefore, if you are going to make repairs to the floor in the dance hall with your own hands, we recommend that you pay special attention to the choice of material.

          Thinking about how to equip a dance studio, you first need to think about high-quality flooring. Its "walking" boards, bumps and similar flaws, which are imperceptible at first glance, can play a cruel joke on the dancers.

          Serious demands are always placed on the floor for the stage, since the quality of the dancers' performance directly depends on their quality. Of course, the reliability and quality of the floor plays an important role here.

          The floor in the dance hall must be:

          • resilient;
          • perfectly flat;
          • resistant to abrasion and high impact and static loads;
          • non-slip.

          Moreover, the dance floor must be highly durable, because the replacement of the floor covering is a technically complex and time-consuming process, and this can disrupt the schedule of concerts and rehearsals for a certain time.

          For high-quality dance hall equipment, all the nuances must be taken into account, since it must be comfortable and practical. It is worth considering all the little things: from the renovation of the premises itself to such additions as a locker room and showers.

          The dance floor is regularly subjected to high loads, so it is important that it is of the highest quality, but at the same time not too hard. You should not save on it, since its constant replacement will cost much more.

          So, what materials are most often used for arranging the floor in the dance hall:

          • parquet board;

          • wood;

          • laminate;

          • linoleum;

          • bulk coating.

          As a rule, a wooden floor is chosen for a dance hall, due to its low cost. It is timeless and great for all types of dance. Nevertheless, a tree is not the most budget option in terms of cost, so a parquet board can be an alternative to it.

          When choosing linoleum, you should immediately take into account that it is not suitable for all types of dance. For example, traces of heels will immediately ruin it. It is more suitable for yoga and fitness exercise.

          Laminate is also not suitable for all types of dance. Moreover, the floor for the dance hall should not be made of chipboard or concrete, although their cost is quite attractive. Chipboard is slippery and concrete is too cold. Many experts recommend giving preference to unvarnished parquet. Such material does not slip, and the dancers will be able to feel more than comfortable.

          In recent years, floor materials such as self-leveling floors and dancing linoleum have gained particular popularity on the market. Bulk coating in many respects outstrips even traditional materials. They have the following properties:

          • durability;
          • smoothness;
          • do not slip;
          • hygiene;
          • vibration resistance;
          • resistance to various influences;
          • high security.

          There are several types of self-leveling coating, but the most popular of them are epoxy and polyurethane floors for the dance hall. The latter is highly wear resistant and is made on the basis of polymeric substances. It differs in design and color. By adding certain additives, certain properties of this coating can be significantly improved. Epoxy self-leveling floors are also not much inferior in terms of characteristics. Their advantage lies in resistance to vibration, so they are often placed on sports fields.

          But when installing a self-leveling floor for a choreographic hall, it is better to turn to specialists. They will do their job efficiently, quickly and provide a guarantee for long-term operation.

          Do-it-yourself floor repair in the dance hall with materials from the best manufacturers

          To provide the possibilities, methods and purposes of floor coverings for dances and stages, it is enough to get acquainted with professional floorings from the world's leading manufacturers for dance, ballet and stage.

          We will consider the products of the world leader from the manufacturer "Harlequin" / "Harlequin" (Luxembourg). Next, the main collections will be considered, as well as their descriptions.

          Collection "DUO"

          The most common floor covering made of PVC, consisting of two layers, forming on each side a non-slip surface of high wear resistance. It is used for stationary laying and touring with adhesive tape on wooden tablets.

          • Roll length: 30, 25, 20, 15, 10 m.
          • Roll width: 2 m and 15 m.
          • Thickness: 1.2 mm.
          • Weight: 1.6 kg/m 2 .

          Studio Collection

          One of the most popular floor coverings available. Multi-layered PVC construction, including a canvas that is reinforced with fiberglass, as well as a shock-absorbing foam backing to reduce the likelihood of injury to the legs. With temperature fluctuations, the coating retains its dimensions. It can be laid on any leveled surface.

          • Roll width is 1.5 m.
          • Length - 30, 25, 20, 15, 10.
          • Thickness - 3 mm.
          • Weight - 2.3 kg/m 2 .
          • Color: white, grey, black.

          Cascade Collection

          The ideal flooring used for classical ballet. Advantages: optimal for spinning, no slipping, perfect foot grip on the floor. It is used both for stationary styling and for tours.

          • Roll length: 25, 20, 15 and 10 m.
          • Width - 2 m.
          • Thickness - 2 mm.
          • Color: white, grey, black.

          Allegro Collection

          Specially designed for the dance hall with a rigid base. Among all the floor coverings known in the world, it has the maximum thickness. Material: PVC, which is reinforced with fiberglass, a substrate (reinforcing) made of foam rubber with a closed structure. An alternative to springy floor options.

          • Roll length - 20, 15, 10 m.
          • Thickness - 8.5 mm.
          • Width - 20, 15, 10 m.
          • Weight - 6 kg/m 2 .
          • Colour: grey, black.

          Tempo collection

          Used in multifunctional dance halls, discos and barefoot dances. The covering has additional protection against rough floors. For stationary and mobile installation. Has high wear resistance.

          • Length - 25, 20 m.
          • Thickness - 3.7 mm.
          • Length - 25, 20 m.
          • Weight - 3.13 kg/m 2 .
          • Colour: grey, black.

          "Standfust" collection

          For multifunctional halls and stages with harsh conditions. Recommended as a stage cover for modern and classical dance, for concert halls and drama theatres. It is intended for stationary laying on glue with special welding of seams.

          • Roll width - 1.5 m.
          • Length - 20.15 m.
          • Thickness - 2.6 mm.
          • Weight - 3.5 kg/m 2 .
          • Colour: light grey, grey, dark grey, black.

          Showfloor Collection

          Monochromatic multi-layer PVC flooring, reinforced with fiberglass, based on honeycomb foam. Used for dance halls, TV studios, exhibition stands, stages and podiums. Fits on any leveled surface with fixation by adhesive tape.

          • Roll length - 25, 20 m.
          • Thickness - 1.8 mm.
          • Width - 2 m.
          • Weight - 1.5 kg/m 2 .
          • Color: white, light grey, grey, dark grey, black.

          "Hi-Shine" collection

          Cover for quick installation on the stage. Used for any show using wet surface or mirrored floors. Glossy surface composed of a hard polymer with good scratch resistance.

          • Roll length - 30, 20 m.
          • Thickness - 1.5 mm.
          • Width - 1.5 m.
          • Weight - 1.96 kg/m 2 .
          • Color: white, black, red, blue.

          Fiesta Collection

          For drama theaters and halls. An alternative to conventional parquet. For fixed laying with butt welding. The coating is characterized by high wear resistance. It is used for the dance floor, which is subjected to a high load (step, tap dance, etc.).

          • Roll length - 25, 20 m.
          • Thickness - 2 mm.
          • Roll width - 2 m.
          • Weight - 3 kg/m 2 .
          • Colour: oak imitation.

          The ultimate roundup of the best dance longboards in 2022

          My love for longboard dancing started with a viral video a few years ago. I was completely captivated by Hans, Doyoung and Moon's demonstration. easy glide around in belgium.

          While everyone knew a longboard could do tricks and tricks, no one expected it to be able to dance at full speed!

          Going back to the video, the second thought that came to my mind was, "Hey, this looks cool and this is what I want to do."

          So I went looking for a dance longboard and ordered something I thought would be good for dancing.

          In short, our first few attempts ended in complete failure. Of course, I still felt a little insecure, but I quickly realized that longboarding is not a sport that can be practiced blindly.

          You see, to the untrained eye, longboarding may seem like just walking up and down the length of the board.

          However, experienced athletes understand the subtleties of weight transfer to the deck and its implications. More importantly, you need the perfect longboard to help you get there.

          While longboarding is one of the best longboarding tricks you can do, it does require some effort. It takes impressive skill and a light touch to master this mesmerizing form of longboarding, but don't underestimate the importance of board selection for a successful dance on a moving longboard.

          Dance longboards are slightly different from traditional boards as they provide more comfort, maneuverability and agility.

          Of course, any longboard can be used for dancing, but special boards for dancers have the added benefit of EFP (Efficient Foot Platform.), which helps beginners perform more freestyle tricks.

          Now, if you want a longboard that you can shift your weight on to allow you to dance while keeping the board under carving motion, keep reading.

          Below are the top five longboards for dancing.

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