Don’t Panic, They’re… Just Turns

Just Turns is a Pirouette method.

One clean approach. There's a right way to turn for you. We find it together.

Formats: Workshops, Masterclasses, School Residencies, Private Coaching.

Ages 8 to 80.

Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz, Competition, Musical Theater.

If you've ever felt stuck on your pirouettes, you've come to the right place.

The Five Rules and Tools

Five rules. Each one has its tools. Train them together and the turn becomes repeatable.

1. Spot. Spot with your face. Just say "no."

2. One. Turn in one piece. Bend the elbow of the closing arm. Freeze the arms in place.

3. Strong. Strong before the turn. Lightly engage abs, back, turnout, hips, or feet.

4. Fast. Fast into the position.

5. Finish. Finish the turn. Bring yourself down. Balance to balance.

Ikolo Griffin

Professional Pirouette Coach ‍

Ikolo Griffin was the first San Francisco Ballet outreach student to join the professional company, where he danced for eight seasons. He went on to perform as a Soloist and Principal with Dance Theatre of Harlem, and as a Principal with Joffrey Ballet and Smuin Ballet, becoming one of the few African-American men of his generation to dance principal roles across multiple major American companies. He received the Princess Grace Award for Dance in 1993. Today he is faculty at San Francisco Ballet School.

Across San Francisco Ballet, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Joffrey Ballet, Smuin Ballet, and Pacific Northwest Ballet, his career has been built inside five of the most storied institutions in American ballet, a route few dancers of any background have walked.

He is the founder and creator of Just Turns, a pirouette method built on a single idea: there is a right way to turn for every dancer. The work is finding it together, and finding the joy of nailing it. Fifteen years and counting, across the United States and around the world.

Contact:

Ikolo is located San Francisco and is available for in-person coaching

anywhere in the Bay Area!

Email: info@justturns.com

Phone: 415.205.2714