Turning for turn boards

There are many aids, products and remedies for dancers on the market which help their training. However the pros and cons of turn boards can be identified easily, and their benefits debated. Previously seen in the dance film documentary First Position earlier this year, it seems turn boards can help dancers to master pirouettes, improve confidence when turning and correct spotting, balance and posture problems. Turn boards are slim rectangular boards which work on the principle of reducing friction between the foot and the floor, allowing the dancer to spin faster. While it is clear a turn board delivers many turns for the dancer, this does not necessarily translate into the same number of turns when a turn board is not used. It may however improve dancers' spotting and allow them to get used to the sensation of performing multiple turns, as well as highlighting small adjustments to be made to improve turns on the floor. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kc7h1yfsyr0 Despite this, a turn board requires the dancer to turn on a flat foot which has potential for problems with technique: in classical ballet, a turn is performed with a releve to either demi or full point. Consequently turn boards may encourage dancers to turn on a low demi pointe rather than pulling up and turning on a high demi pointe as required. Turning on a flat foot means the foot is not in the same position and the weight distribution is different than that which is required for pirouettes. Therefore, the physicality of a turn, with an adjusted centre of gravity when on flat to demi or full point, is very different with and without the board. For beginners who are just learning the turning technique, it is likely that the turn board would complicate matters. It could make learning pirouettes harder or encourage bad habits.