Five Basic Positions
- Jacklyn Dougherty
- Jun 10, 2024
- 2 min read
Five Basic Positions
All leg movements proceed from these five ballet basic positions and have their logical termination.
First Position
Keep heels together, turn feet outward in straight line.
First Position
POSTURE AND MUSCULAR CONTROL
I Center weight equally between the feet.
Tighten muscles in thighs and buttocks. Draw abdomen in and lift diaphragm.
Turn thighs outward, keep knees straight and in direct line with center of turned-out feet.
Hold shoulders down.
Arms are rounded, slightly advanced from body, elbows lifted, palms held inward. Fingers relaxed, thumb held inward, 3rd and 4th fingers held lightly together. Arms are slightly forward of body.
Keep head centered, neck free from tension, eyes straight ahead.
Second Position
Turn feet outward in straight line, separated by distance of one foot.
POSTURE AND MUSCULAR CONTROL
I Center weight equally between the feet.
Tighten muscles in thighs and buttocks. Draw abdomen in and lift diaphragm.
Turn thighs outward, keep knees straight and in direct line with center of turned-out feet.
Hold shoulders down.
Arms are rounded, slightly advanced from body, elbows lifted, palms held inward. Fingers relaxed, thumb held inward, 3rd and 4th fingers held lightly together. Arms are slightly forward of body.
Keep head centered, neck free from tension, eyes straight ahead.
Third Position
Turn feet outward, place heels together on in front
POSTURE AND MUSCULAR CONTROL
I Center weight equally between the feet.
Tighten muscles in thighs and buttocks. Draw abdomen in and lift diaphragm.
Turn thighs outward, keep knees straight and in direct line with center of turned-out feet.
Hold shoulders down.
Arms are rounded, slightly advanced from body, elbows lifted, palms held inward. Fingers relaxed, thumb held inward, 3rd and 4th fingers held lightly together. Arms are slightly forward of body.
Keep head centered, neck free from tension, eyes straight ahead.
Fourth Position
Turn feet outward, place one foot in front of the other
on parallel line, separated by a distance of one foot. Heels and the toes are in line forming a square.
POSTURE AND MUSCULAR CONTROL
I Center weight equally between the feet.
2 Tighten muscles in thighs and buttocks. Draw abdomen in and lift diaphragm.
3 Turn thighs outward, keep knees straight and in direct line with center of turned-out feet.
4 Hold shoulders down.
5 Arms are rounded, slightly advanced from body, elbows lifted, palms held inward. Fingers relaxed, thumb held inward, 3rd and 4th fingers held lightly together. Arms are slightly forward of body.
6 Keep head centered, neck free from tension, eyes straight ahead.
Fifth Position
Turn feet outward, place one foot directly in front of the other, the first joint of the big toe projecting beyond either heel.
POSTURE AND MUSCULAR CONTROL
I Center weight equally between the feet.
Tighten muscles in thighs and buttocks. Draw abdomen in and lift diaphragm.
Turn thighs outward, keep knees straight and in direct line with center of turned-out feet.
Hold shoulders down.
Arms are rounded, slightly advanced from body, elbows lifted, palms held inward. Fingers relaxed, thumb held inward, 3rd and 4th fingers held lightly together. Arms are slightly forward of body.
Keep head centered, neck free from tension, eyes straight ahead.
