Ballet Positions Every Aspiring Ballerina Should Know
Ballet is a form of dance that values precision and highly formalised ballet positions, steps, and gestures. Light, graceful, fluid movements characterise the genre as well as, of course, its famous tutus worn by ballerinas. A ballerina is the Italian title given to the female dancer who holds the principle title with a company (the men are called ballerino). In today’s blog, we’ll go over the motions that every established ballet dancer knows as well as provide some tips to aspiring dancers.
Ballet Positions
Two key body parts, feet and arms, represent two of the major types of ballet positions. Alongside these gestures, “Movements” are french words that also are essential to know.
Feet
There are five basic positions for feet. All these stances use what’s known as a “turn-out” where the leg is rotated to be at a 90-degree angle. This can take a lot of training to achieve.
The positions are:
- Ankles are together.
- Ankles are now hip-distance apart.
- Because it looks too similar to Fifth Position, this position is rarely used anymore.
- One foot is turned-out a considerable distance in front of the other foot.
- Similar to fourth position except the feet are touching each other.
Arms
Like feet, the arms have five basic ballet positions.
The positions are:
- Arms are slightly bent and held out in front of the body at close to 90 degrees.
- Arms are held just below shoulder height at the side of the body.
- Although similar to Second Position, this move has one arm held slightly bent above the dancer’s head.
- Similar to First Position, except one arm is held slightly bent above the dancer’s head.
- Both arms are held slightly bent above the dancer’s head.
Movements
These are three basic movements that beginners must learn.
- Plié (plee-ay): to bend. Both feet are flat of the floor (like First Position) and the knees are bent directly over the dancer’s toes.
- Relevé (ruh-leh-vay): to rise. Dancers lift one or both feet so that their body weight is on the balls of their feet. Note: this is not the same as going on pointe (tips of the toes).
- Sauté (soh-tay): to jump. Beginning in a plié position, the dancer jumps with both feet leaving on, and returning to, the ground at the same time. Landing back in a plié helps to cushion the knees.
Tips for Aspiring Ballerinas
Executing the Ballet Positions
- Turning Out. Try to keep both feet evenly flat on the floor. It doesn’t need to be “perfect” — it just needs to be safe and confident so you’re able to perform more difficult steps.
- Arms. Imagine you are make a shape with your arms. It is also important to hold them from your back while trying not to lift your shoulders.
- Remember practice makes perfect. There is always room for improvement. For instance, polishing the basics will make for clean graceful movement.
Being a Dancer
- Keep up with dancing news. See who the current ballerinas are, and subsequently how the ballet world may be shifting.
- Care for Yourself. Your mind is just as important to keep healthy as you body. Therefore, it’s vital to eat well to fuel your body and listen to what it tells you it needs.
- Endurance. Dance is a hard career path. It requires a lot of perseverance and strength.
- Improvement. Understanding the importance of implementing critique will help in bettering your technique and skills.
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