Ballet is a form of dance in which the artists learn to perform a series of choreographed movements set to music. Some of these movements are acrobatic in nature, consisting of leaps, spins and catches. Precision is an important aspect of ballet, and a performer is often judged by the quality of her movements and configuration of her body. One of the first steps in learning ballet is to master the basics of posture and foot positioning.
Posture Basics
Step 1
Stand with your feet together and your toes pointed forward. Keep your back straight and relax your shoulders.
Step 2
Pull your knees back until your legs are completely straight. Shift your weight onto the balls of your feet. Tuck your stomach inward and lift your rear upward.
Step 3
Hold your head upright and keep your eyes and chin level. Practice standing in this manner until it begins to feel natural.
Basic Foot Positions
Step 1
Enter “first” position by standing with your heels together and your legs turned outward from your hips, such that your toes point to either side of your body. Begin by pointing them out at a 45-degree angle from your body; as you practice, continue angling your toes outward until you approach a 90-degree angle.
Step 2
Enter “second” position by starting from first position, then moving your feet until they are roughly shoulders-width apart. Divide your body's weight evenly between your feet.
Step 3
Enter “third” position by bringing your feet together; position the heel of one of your feet in front of the arch of your opposite foot. Keep your toes pointed outward.
Step 4
Enter “fourth” position by starting from third position and then moving your forward foot further toward the toe of your rear foot. Allow a space between each foot that is roughly equivalent to the length of one of your feet.
Step 5
Enter “fifth” position in a similar manner to “fourth” position, but without the space between your feet. Position the heel of your forward foot against the toes of your rear foot.
Tips and Warnings
- Each leg position is more difficult than the previous one; master one position before attempting to move on to a new one. You may find it useful to practice your posture in front of a mirror or another person, to help locate any flaws. One trick that may help improve your posture is to imagine that you have a string attached to the top of your head; pretend that someone is pulling the string upward and adjust your posture accordingly.
References
- “My Ballet Book”; Kate Castle; 1998
- DanceClass.com: Ballet Posture
