Ballet Positions
The Essential Basics of Ballet

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Find out here the most important positions dancers needs to know!

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When you think of the first ballet class you ever had, it seemed quite simple. Your teachers would have focused on the basics.

If you think about any ballet exercises you have learnt, it will contain one of the following positions:

1st position -.-.-.-.-.-.-.-


2nd position -.-.-.-.-.-.-.-


3rd position -.-.-.-.-.-.-.-


4th position -.-.-.-.-.-.-.-


5th position -.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

You can get etc., reminding you of all the various ballet positions (very useful as reference and bedtime reading!)- but my advice is don't get lost in all the detail.

On this page and the pages which link off it, read the ultimate simplicity of how all these things fit into the bigger picture.

Read and make a simple mental map to guide you through the details. KNOW WHERE YOU ARE! If in doubt ask Odette on the visitor queries and comments section at the bottom of this page!

The five basic positions will follow a dancer throughout their career. They give your dancing a clean and classical manner.

These positions are the base of a dancer's career. You carry them out on the ballet barre, in the center and in all basic ballet steps you do.

I remember hearing a lot of my teachers saying 'You have to go back to basics'. I always clung onto this bit of advice.

To get a ballet pose as perfect as it can be, go back and pinpoint the basics.

Everything you do in ballet should be a position. It's important that each movement you make is a position. Make a statement and show your audience what you are trying to present.

I know the feeling when you just want to get up and dance the most challenging ballet moves.

You see the famous dancers doing such exciting and fun movements. However, if you understand the basics then you'll find the more demanding steps easier.

A dancer needs to know their ability and what they're capable of. Even when ballet stretching, you have to have patience and pace yourself.


For example, Fouettés are a move which takes time to get right.

However, if your arms have a secure first and second position, then that will give the turn more strength.

The basic positions and techniques of ballet have been around for a long time.

Choreographers may make up their own ballet movements but the basic ballet positions have stayed the same.


Arabesque with arms in fifth position
Photo sourced from photobucket.com

Don't leave it to your teacher!

You can watch this pre-pointe video yourself here (just wait for the page to load up then the video is on the top right of the page).


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