TIPS FOR TURNS
By Tami Krause
Just For Kix Vice President of Camps, Head Coach MN Vikings Cheerleaders

1. Pull up! Your "center" must be engaged. Pull up in your legs (in your relevé and your passé) and push down with your shoulders and upper body. Stomach in tight to spine and NO arch in your back!
2. The higher your relevé on your supporting foot - the better! If your heel is low - you are closer to dropping it and not being "pulled up" enough. The higher it is the nicer the line created, the more engaged you are muscularly, and the more turns you can do. Get it up and keep it up!
3. Spot!!!! You can't do multiple turns without a good spot! Remember - don't put your chin up, as it puts your spin out of alignment and when you whip your head around to spot your chin height will eventually throw you off. Also remember spotting helps with avoiding dizziness and comes from eye focus! Some people don't have the best eyes and focusing is harder for them - be patient and keep working at it. The muscles in your eyes can be trained too!
4. Use your arms! If your arm placement is off - it will create not only bad lines, but bad habits and bad turns. Really spend time on proper arm placement - it is the force behind the turn and helps to hold your center tight. Arm placement changes with choreography, so don't get stuck doing ONLY one arm preparation or placement. Be versatile.
5. Your passé should be high. Like a "spinning top", the tip or point that you spin on, is at the bottom (your relevé) and the round motion comes from the base created by the part sticking out (your passé). If the passé is low it isn't out as far as if the passé is high on the knee. A higher passé (working leg) helps to engage the muscles in the leg (both in turnout and parallel) and will produce better technique in your turns. It also helps with more revolutions and speed! A "spinning top toy" and a pencil will not spin around the same amount of time - the "top" will go longer and more revolutions because of the round base at the top that helps to create more momentum - just like a nice high passé! Give it a try!