Ballet has five positions of the feet. Every step or movement connects to these ballet positions. While using these positions keep your body centered and balanced, hips square, turn your legs out so that your toes point to your left and right. Don’t twist/rotate from your ankles!

When dancers talk about “turnout” it means how you rotate from where your hip and leg meet. Professional dancers may have a 180° turnout, that means they can point their toes in exactly the opposite directions, heels in the middle and toes side to side. A beginner will NOT have this flexibility yet (unless they are amazingly gifted or have practiced for another reason). In brief I will say that for now your turnout is where you can turn your legs/hips to the side and it doesn’t hurt.

First position for the feet is when you stand turned out from the hips, heels touching. Have your legs straight, but not locked. Toes should point to the left and right even with where your knee is pointing.

Most beginners will start and end their exercises from first position.