Ballet Turnout...please help!!!!!??

Question

Hi, I'm a ballet dancer and for the last three years or so I have noticed that whenever I move away from the barre, I find it extremely hard to maintain my turnout and technique. This is starting to really affect me now I have tried practicing so much but centre exercises for me really challenge me to keep turnout and technique and I don't really know how to fix it. Does this happen to anyone else and does anyone have any suggestions?

Anything would be helpful! ox

Answer 1

I have this problem and I found out its because I have hip trouble and its nothing I can really do about it.

Answer 2

when you are standing in the center, either in first or fifth, you need to make sure that you are really pulled up out of your hips and standing straight, feel like you are going to touch the ceiling. make sure that you are solid through your core and hold on really tightly with your gluts (your bottom muscles) and your thighs. feel like the energy in your legs are spiraling around your leg. this will help you to feel like you are rotating from the hips and then you just have to hold it with your gluts.

another tip when standing in fifth you are aiming to have your legs flat across the thigh. if you keep working at it you should soon see a muscle indentation. if you can see that after a while of working it, then you are working your muscles and turn out correctly. hope this will help. happy dancing and good luck! =)

Answer 3

Ive been dancing for eleven years and i have trouble with my turnout too but I've, noticed it has improved with an exercise that my teacher gave me. when your watching TV or something sit on the floor in center splits and push your thighs back with your hands and point your toes, that way you'll be turning out from the hips and not from your feet.

Answer 4

i have the exact same problem and i feel sometimes like nothing can be done to help

but then there is

imagine your thighs are constantly rotating outwards. this will be working if you can see the front of your thigh go flat.

also do the frog stretches often

good luck xxxx

Answer 5

i've this problem too, but my teacher just told me to do more stretching, it may need lot of time but it help a bit.