What is a Pivot?

Maybe your teacher mentions it all the time, or maybe he doesn't at all, but it is an extremely important part of Ballroom.

What is a pivot you may ask?  A pivot is a specific way of turning.  A pivot is simply a turn on the ball of your foot.  Usually it is half a turn, or 180 degrees, but sometimes it can go up to a full revolution, or 360 degrees.

But don't we always turn on one foot?  Yes, this is true, but this is pretty different from what we will usually do for a usual turn.

So how do we execute a pivot?  A good way to practice the pivot is by stepping forward on the left, turning to the left on the ball of your foot so you end up facing opposite of the direction you started, so half a turn.  Next, step backwards on the right foot and continuing to turn left, but now on the ball of your right foot, then face the opposite direction.  After this, you can repeat this exercise over and over again.  The result should be you moving down the floor the direction you started facing.

One final tip.  While executing a pivot, your feet must always be facing the same direction as your hips are facing, a slight bit outwards is okay as well.  The problem is, once you leave your foot behind, it will decrease your turn, and it probably won't be a pivot.  Move the foot with you!

Maybe you were already executing pivots without knowing it.  I discussed a spin turn earlier, and if you execute it correctly, there is a pivot in there.

Have fun with the pivots!

-Aaron Mullen