BALLET POSITIONS

What makes ballet unique from other types of dance? It's not just the slower, graceful movements, or the beautiful costumes with tutus and pointe shoes.

The foundational difference between ballet and other dance genres are the foot positions. Each of the five positions also have corresponding arm positions.

Even the youngest ballerinas start to learn the classic "turned out" feet from their first class. In reality, this turnout should happen from the top of the leg all the way through the ankle.

A forced turnout is never ok. A teacher can gently assist dancers to achieve the turned out foot or coax into the correct placement on the floor, but should never pry, apply heavy pressure, or require a foot to be more turned out than is physically capable of at that time.

Dancers should understand the boundaries of their own bodies and work to improve their turnout through stretching and practice. They can be easily practiced in sequence and mastered in the studio and at home with repetitive stretching techniques and holding the positions for periods of time.

Once these five basic foot positions are learned, more complex movements and sequences can be incorporated.

1st Position

2nd Position

3rd Position

4th Position

5th Position