Beginner: Travel Step with Pirouette Turn

Here's a beginner + lesson on a simple travel step with pirouette turn sequence by Sonya O'Neill!

Preparation: positioned ready to step forward on right foot on 1 count; arms wide and parallel to floor to support upper body and balance; focus forward in direction of travel

Count 1: step forward on right foot; maintain arm position

Count 2: step forward on diagonal to left with left foot; maintain arm position

Count 3 and: step forward with right foot and begin preparation for pirouette by
bending both legs slightly, weight mostly on right foot with balance supported by left
bringing left arm forward in a curve in front of diaphragm to create a semicircle

Count 4: turn on the spot to the left by simultaneously
bringing left foot pointed to knee so that from the front the leg appears to be next to and in line with right leg; hold this position until the next count
straightening right leg and rising on the ball of right foot
bringing right arm in a curve in front of diaphragm to complete circle in front of body
continuing to maintain focus in the forward direction by keeping eyes and head looking forward for long as possible and then quickly turning head in a complete circle to regain focus forward

Count 5: step forward on right foot; arms comfortable at side

Count 6: step forward on left foot; arms comfortable at side

Count 7: step forward on right foot; arms comfortable at side

Count 8: step forward on left foot; arms wide to prepare for repeating exercise

Tips:
this exercise can be repeated on the left side by reversing the positioning
student must already be comfortable with pirouette turns without travelling
keeping arms in a circular shape in front of the body and not letting them collapse inwards or downwards is critical for beginners and helps with balance and momentum
holding the foot next to the knee for a whole count can be challenging if balance is not maintained
spotting is essential in order to prevent dizziness and maintain directional focus
adjusting music speed can help make the exercise easier or more difficult as fast music needs to be kept up with, but slow music requires better balance and control