What is your opinion on rounded arms vs straight arms in a pirouette preparation for jazz class? I typically have them prep with their feet in parallel and reaching with their arms in an L, palms facing the floor with the energy going out through the fingertips. Please let me know whether or not you feel this is incorrect or bad technique. Thanks.

I think for a jazz pirouette straight arms are acceptable but in ballet I wad taught they should be rounded but jazz is a bit more lenient and straight arms should be fine.

I think it is a matter of personal preference and choreography. Both rounded and straight arms are used in jazz port de bras.

^ Agree.
Also, it depends were the arms will be in the pirouette.
From round, you probably keep them round in the turn.
From straight, you could go to flat arms (handpalms close to your chest) more easily.

I prefer rounded, but either is correct. I think it's easier (at least for my kids) to hold their arms in the position during the turn if they prep with them rounded.

I prefer a straight "L" shape because I find (for younger kids at least) that it looks cleaner.

For ballet arms rounded, for jazz i ususally have them in a L shape as well so that they have the grounded feeling.

I use rounded for most everything. In my studio I get the "whip" effect when they have straight arms. They whip their left arm in if the are doing a right pirouette or whip the right in if they are doing a left. I use a funny metaphor for them, I tell them to push a curtain open with their front arm instead of whipping for momentum. If that make sense to anyone

I never do rounded arms for jazz, in my opinion it looks too much like ballet...one professor in college used to call them "jazzerina" arms and I have always followed that train of thought.

I do sometimes use rounded arms in lyrical choreography, but never in a stricctly jazz technique class, only straight arms in the "L" shape with palms facing the ground.

It depends on the turn - if we are doing a coupe turn, compass turn, turns in second, or anything else where the legs are turned out, then we will prep in a ballet fourth with rounded arms. Any kind of jazz pirouette or turn with legs in a parallel position, we prep in jazz fourth with back heel in a forced arch and arms in an L-shape.

Thanks, everyone for your opinions. I think the beauty of this forum is that as dance "rules" change, we can bounce ideas off one another. I had been getting some flak from the SO and she has been undermining the teaching of the "L" shape in jazz to the kids and telling them that it is incorrect technique, so thanks for sharing!