What is a turning board?

A turning board is a piece of slightly curved plastic or wood that has little friction on hard surfaces.  It is usually just big enough for a dancer to stand on with one foot.  With very little effort, the board can begin to rotate very quickly, so dancers can do multiple pirouettes.  The general goal of training with a turning board is to improve the position of the working leg (the "up" leg), arms, hips, and head during a turn without having to put effort into turning. 

It's an outstanding concept, and using a turning board can be helpful.  However, if not used properly, turning boards can be dangerous.  Here are a few things to keep in mind before beginning to use one. 

1.       You cannot stand in releve on a turning board.  The standing foot must be on flat with the toes and heel in contact with the board.  To keep a turning board safe, there should be a decent amount of  friction between the foot and the board.   Use  your turning board while barefoot or wearing a shoe like a sneaker.  Do not use your turning board while wearing only socks on your feet, and take caution while wearing soft dance shoes.  (Some turning boards have a sandpaper-like material on the side you stand on, but not all do.)   If you slip off the board while turning, you could fall and get hurt.  NEVER go en pointe on a turning board.

2.       Turning boards move very quickly, and it is difficult to control turnout.  If you do ballet, you probably know that turned out is not the most natural automatic position for people's legs.  As the turning board moves, your standing leg will probably automatically adjust to be in parallel (and because the turning board provides no resistance, you will not be able to correct the turnout).  If you use the turning board for its intended purpose and focus on parts of your body aside from your standing leg, you should be just fine.  However, be aware that training with the turning board a lot can lead to a turned in standing leg when doing pirouettes in class.

3.       You must hold your core while using a turning board.  Because there's little resistance, the board turns quickly and does not slow down for a controlled landing until 10 or more revolutions are completed.  In order to keep from leaning to the side and feeling unsteady as the board turns, you must hold your abdominal muscles strong and support yourself.  Young dancers and those who do not have developed core muscles may not find much success when using a turning board because they may lean to the side or be overcome with a feeling of falling, which do not allow the dancer to finish the turns and complete a controlled landing.

4.       Turning boards only work on hard, solid surfaces like wood, marley, or linoleum.  Dance studios, homes with un-grooved wood floors, and kitchens are the best places to practice.  Floors with grooves and surfaces like carpet, grass, and sidewalk are not good surfaces for a turning board.  There will be too much friction for the turning board to work as intended.  If there is any dirt or dust on the bottom of a turning board, it can sometimes scratch the surface it is used on.