I have seen thousands of dances in my career, maybe millions, but my favorite dances rarely include an a la seconde turning section. What I am saying is that I appreciate a very well executed a la seconde used in a dance that is choreographed to really show off and highlight the level of technique the dancer(s) have but, if they are not done well then they are not needed and often hurt the scoring of the dance.
They are a more advanced turn and dancers need to be taught exactly how to properly execute them rather than just "going for it". There are so so many things involved-the supporting leg, the working leg, arms, the plié, the relevé, the spot, the core, the feet, ribcage, back, hip flexors, adductors, abductors...the list goes on!!!!
What to talk about first? Let's start with the working leg, otherwise known as the leg that actually opens to Second position. Three things are super important here 1. keeping the leg at the same height, 2. NOT opening the leg out too much, and 3. rotating the leg so that the hip doesn't lift and the heel pulls forward and up. And though those are only 3 things, they can make or break your turn.
Let me help you!!! Here is my fav exercise for the working leg (oh and of course make sure to watch my video for complete demo!).
-Lie on your back with your supporting leg flat against a wall (as if the wall is the floor). Make sure that your supporting leg is rotated, your heel remains on the wall, and your entire leg is straight and "engaged".
-The same arm as supporting leg opens straight out and flat on the floor at shoulder level. Since we are only focusing on the working leg, the arm will just be used for stability.
-Activate your abdominals so that your supporting side stays connected to the floor, reminder that the core plays a huge role in turning especially for stabilizing.
-Bring your working leg to a front (deviant) position 90 degrees above your hip. Make sure you are using your rotation from the hip socket to pull your heel towards you. Your working arm will also lie flat on the ground for support.
-Now, VERY SLOWLY (this is key) carry your working leg and arm out to Second position, the supporting side should be still engaged to the floor. Now, VERY SLOWLY bring your leg back to the starting point. REPEAT
-Emphasis is on the supporting side for stability and the working side for rotation and range of motion.
Once you are able to maintain the height, range of motion, and rotation of your working leg the rest will be easier! Please remember that the choreography for competition should highlight you and your strengths. if you are still working on the perfect a la seconde turn then consider removing it from your dance and replacing it with something that looks great on you! It could be all the difference in scoring your best! And in the meantime keep practicing!
Take care of YOU dancers!
Liz