In ballet, to make one full turn of the body on the point of the toe or the ball of the foot In skating, an alternate term for a spin used more commonly in Europe than in North America
[peer-WET] Whirl or spin A complete turn of the body on one foot, on point or demi-pointe Pirouettes are performed en dedans, turning inward toward the supporting leg, or en dehors, turning outward in the direction of the raised leg Correct body placement is essential in all kinds of pirouettes The body must be well centered over the supporting leg with the back held strongly and the hips and shoulders aligned The force of momentum is furnished by the arms, which remain immobile during the turn The head is the last to move as the body turns away from the spectator and the first to arrive as the body comes around to the spectator, with the eyes focused at a definite point which must be at eye level This use of the eyes while turning is called "spotting " Pirouettes may be performed in any given position, such as sur le cou-de-pied, en attitude, en arabesque, à la seconde, etc
If someone pirouettes, they perform one or more pirouettes. She pirouetted in front of the glass. a dance movement in which the dancer turns very quickly, standing on one toe or the front part of one foot
In a pirouette, the forehand of the horse makes a circle with the haunches-in, around the hindquarters The outside hind leg turns around the inside hind leg, which continues to lift and land on the same spot, maintaining the sequence of the gait during the entire pirouette The horse is bent the same way he is turning, the cadence is maintained, the posture stays equal Pirouettes are executed in a walk, piaffe or canter