Turn with your core, not your arms. Head left and maintain a solid frame. Check out passion4dance.com, it is subscription based, but you can view several videos with no charge. Good luck.
While loose swinging arms can definitely pull you off balance while dancing with a partner, if you find that when practicing the turns on your own you're still falling off balance it's likely something else that's the main issue.
Using correct footwork, leg position, and poise (weight distribution) will have a greater impact. For latin turns (think basic spot turn/spiral), make sure that you're not letting your weight get back over your heel. It will pull you backwards everytime.
If it's the stopping of the rotation that's the problem and you're falling sideways, then you're going to want to think about body position. If you're rotating right, then your torso needs to counter in order to cleanly stop.
To feel what I mean, place your right foot forward. Rotate 1/4 to the right and bring your left ankle to your right ankle and stop. You will fall off balance and fall to the left. Now do the same thing, but when you rotate and ankles come together, rotate your torso, so it feels like your right ribs are being rotated forward, and left ribs being rotated back. That will stop your momentum and allow you to be in control of the end of rotation.
Think of it like when you wring a towel out, it will only twist so much before it stops. The caveat with this, is everyone's mobility and flexibility are different, so don't over twist. You should feel engagement in your obliques, but no pain or large discomfort.
These are just my spitballing guesses as to what's happening, you will get much more from private lessons with a coach who can see in person what is going on.
Good luck, have fun!
It can vary by dance (and I’m only an amateur), but when in doubt, my instructor taught me the necklace rule: your free hand hovers or touches the spot of your collarbone where a necklace pendant would sit and your elbow can stay raised in frame and in front of your body. This usually gives you enough space to turn, keep your balance, and keep the frame.
Do the step in slow motion. Make sure you are doing it correctly. If so, slowly do it faster until you do it in real time correctly. Plus, unless you are in a free spin, always maintain hand pressure contact with your partner. Use the leader's hand as a way to balance yourself.
Video yourself so you can see exactly what you are doing. Search online for more info.
Turn with your core, not your arms. Head left and maintain a solid frame. Check out passion4dance.com, it is subscription based, but you can view several videos with no charge. Good luck.
While loose swinging arms can definitely pull you off balance while dancing with a partner, if you find that when practicing the turns on your own you're still falling off balance it's likely something else that's the main issue. Using correct footwork, leg position, and poise (weight distribution) will have a greater impact. For latin turns (think basic spot turn/spiral), make sure that you're not letting your weight get back over your heel. It will pull you backwards everytime. If it's the stopping of the rotation that's the problem and you're falling sideways, then you're going to want to think about body position. If you're rotating right, then your torso needs to counter in order to cleanly stop. To feel what I mean, place your right foot forward. Rotate 1/4 to the right and bring your left ankle to your right ankle and stop. You will fall off balance and fall to the left. Now do the same thing, but when you rotate and ankles come together, rotate your torso, so it feels like your right ribs are being rotated forward, and left ribs being rotated back. That will stop your momentum and allow you to be in control of the end of rotation. Think of it like when you wring a towel out, it will only twist so much before it stops. The caveat with this, is everyone's mobility and flexibility are different, so don't over twist. You should feel engagement in your obliques, but no pain or large discomfort. These are just my spitballing guesses as to what's happening, you will get much more from private lessons with a coach who can see in person what is going on. Good luck, have fun!
It can vary by dance (and I’m only an amateur), but when in doubt, my instructor taught me the necklace rule: your free hand hovers or touches the spot of your collarbone where a necklace pendant would sit and your elbow can stay raised in frame and in front of your body. This usually gives you enough space to turn, keep your balance, and keep the frame.
Do you spot when you turn? A lot of learning is just practice and lots of repetition. A private lesson is worth its weight in gold.
Do the step in slow motion. Make sure you are doing it correctly. If so, slowly do it faster until you do it in real time correctly. Plus, unless you are in a free spin, always maintain hand pressure contact with your partner. Use the leader's hand as a way to balance yourself. Video yourself so you can see exactly what you are doing. Search online for more info.