6 Exercises to practice Pivots

Just like steps, pivots can be performed with different dynamics and combined with different movements of the free leg. Here you have 6 exercises to practice your pivots.

We are going to use 2 changes of direction, from Open Step  to Open Step and from Front Cross to Front Cross, also known as ” 8 Adelante “. There are more changes of direction, but we start with the simplest.

Open Steps

We start with the Open Steps. We combine 3 Open Steps with two pivots. The two pivots have the same sense of rotation and the Open Steps must be made in one line.

In the first option we use only the torsion to generate the pivots.

For those with less experience you can cheat and get a little boost, as I show you in the second option. But remember that the real challenge is to be able to do it as in the first option.

Front Cross

The following exercises are a little more difficult, we are going to use the Front Cross. After each Front Cross we are going to make a pivot and we are going to combine it with different options.

– Front Enrosque

We start by crossing the free leg in front of the standing leg. First we do the two movements separately and little by little we try to make the pivot and the crossing of the free leg happen at the same time. In this way we are making Front Enrosques.

– Back Enrosque

The next option is the Back Enrosque, this time we cross the free leg behind the standing leg. Since in this option the free leg moves much less than in the previous option, it is much easier to perform the pivot and cross the free leg at the same time.

In both Enrosque’s exercises we do not change weight after the Enrosque, so we alternate legs during the exercise.

– Front Voleo

We continue with the Voleos. The first option is very similar to Front Enrosque, but now the free leg covers much more distance and comes off the ground.

– Back Voleo

The Back Voleo after a Front Cross is not seen much, it could be considered an ornament but can be lead it.

I hope you liked it, would you like to see more pivots exercises?

You can join our Tango for Leaders Classes where you will find a lot of exercises for pivots, steps, balance, dynamics, and more.

Time to time we publish some simple exercises in our Instagram too, so follow us know to don’t miss them !

Until next time !