Kenzie Ziegler TurnBoard® (Official TurnBoard)

Product Information

By contrast, a turn disc encourages dancers to practice their moves in Releve (a movement in which the dancer rises on the tips of their toes), because they are working in a very limited space (usually less than 6 inches). This more closely mimics the actual dance environment, forcing the user to spin on the balls of their feet so that their feet don’t touch the floor. You can’t remain flat footed on a turn disc. The effectiveness of the Turn Board needs to be considered from the context of different dance styles. In classical ballet, a turn is performed with a releve to either demi or full point. The Turn Board, however, has to be used with a flat foot, and has the potential to create problems with technique. Sinead Vidler, the director of Academy Ballet in Sydney (and Sophie’s teacher), has a number of students who have used the Turn Board and she has noticed its impact on their technique. “Increasingly I’m seeing students spinning on a low demi pointe rather than pulling up and turning on a high demi pointe as required,” she says.

However, dancers who have good turn technique established already but who are working on multiple turns (like 4 or more) might find it helpful to use a turn board with less friction to develop precise rhythm and spotting. If you are a bunhead who is unsure as to whether or not you should be using a turning board, you should start by asking your teacher. They will be the most qualified to tell you if this tool is something that can help you. SPIN WITH SUPREME CONFIDENCE: No more fear of slippery mishaps with our dance turning board. The high-density recycled foam grips like a charm, offering turning boards for dancers that double as a figure skating spinner for those off-ice practice sessions. If your dancer already has a turning board and you would like to share your experience and which type of board you have, leave a comment below. STRENGTH AND STYLE IN EVERY SWIRL: Turn board for dancers or ice skating spinner aficionados, the TTolbi Ballet Turning Board is the sturdy stage for your training. With robust construction, our turnboard dance partner is a silent promise of durability and elegance. Get comfortable, and then perform a single pirouette by giving yourself a gentle push in the direction you want to spin. Make sure it’s gentle, as it’s easy to lose control.Ask any group of bunheads about what they think of turning boards and you’ll have mixed answers. Whether or not to train using a turning board is somewhat controversial in the world of bunheads. Center your body weight. Take your other foot off the ground and balance in the pirouette position. This slim, rectangular board you place under one foot is used by some as a training tool to help dancers, gymnasts and figure skaters learn to turn. While some say it can improve spotting, rhythm and getting the body used to multiple turns, others feel that it can encourage bad technique habits as some turn boards force the user to turn on a flat foot. CONQUER EVERY PIROUETTE: Step onto the TTolbi Turn Board and feel the magic as you pirouette with unmatched grace. This turning board is designed to elevate your technique, whether you're a dancer perfecting your turns or a figure skater seeking that flawless spin. They will allow you to train your core so that your abdominal muscles keep you stable whilst turning.

However, some people argue that dance turn boards are problematic because they let dancers practice in a flat footed position. This isn’t how you will perform the moves in an actual dance, which means you may have to re-learn the techniques when you start trying to use them in a real context.If you and your teacher determine that a turnboard would be helpful for you, here are the top 3 options that we feel are the best turning boards (or turn discs) for your money. #1 My Turn Disc Portable Turning Board However, they are also used in slightly different ways. A dance turn board allows the dancer to be “flat footed,” which some teachers frown on. Dance moves are not performed flat footed, and some people think that training this way is a bad idea. Melanie Fuller is a physiotherapist with Pondera Physio and Pilates in Brisbane. She also points out the difference between turning on a flat foot to turning on a demi or full point. When using the board, “the foot is not in the same position and the weight distribution is different than for pirouettes in ballet, so I question the specificity of training and how that would cross over to help a pirouette.”

Because they reduce friction, they also let you focus on other parts of learning different techniques, and they can make it easier to practice on various floor types. Includes pump enabling you to let air out of the cushion and decreasing its stability, creating a greater workout challenge!The physicality of a turn, with an adjusted centre of gravity when on flat to demi or full point, is very different with and without the board. For beginners who are just learning the technique it is likely that the Turn Board would complicate matters. It could make learning pirouettes harder or encourage bad habits. While the vision from First Position is certainly spectacular, are there any dangers in using this training aid? What happens when dancers step off the Turn Board and try a pirouette without one? Does an octuple turn on the board really translate to a multiple turn without the board? A number of teachers and physiotherapists are not convinced.

It’s a good idea to warm up before you use the board, paying particular attention to exercising your core so that the muscles are ready to support your weight and keep you balanced as you are turning. You will also need to stretch your calves, ready for bearing your weight during the turn. Aids posture and can be used for a variety of exercises for a full body workout – the unstable surface engages core musclesIt’s worth noting that while dance turn boards and turning discs are very similar, there are a few significant differences. The most obvious is that dance turn boards are rectangular, and turn discs (as the name suggests) are circular. This is the easiest way to distinguish between the two. In ballet, turns are usually done on demi or full point and so the foot is in a different position and thus the weight distribution is different. Sometimes dancers who use turn boards frequently might have trouble pulling all the way up on releve or demi point when they do a pirouette without the board and might have a more difficult time with body placement and finding their center of balance. PORTABILITY MEETS PROFESSIONALISM: Your pirouette board is ready to hit the road when you are. With a design that's as portable as it is professional, TTolbi is the ultimate turnboards for dancers and skaters who live to spin and love to move.