I get a lot of questions about turnout - mostly how to increase turnout. Concerns that teachers expect the little toe to heel fifth position.

A dancer may be born with a retroverted hip joint, where the structure allows for more turnout. An anteverted hip joint allows for more turn in. For ballet, the retroverted hip joint is better, but turnout does not make or break the ability to do ballet.

Some dancers have a natural tibial torsion, where the leg below the knee is more turned out than the thigh. These dancers must learn to hold their turnout and place their feet correctly, flat on the floor. The knees and feet must have the same degree of turnout, regardless.

Watch your favorite ballet stars carefully. If you really see just how turned out their standing leg is at any given moment, you'll see a lot of variation in turnout. But who is watching their standing legs anyway? Fortunately there is far too much going on for that to matter.

Holding the turnout that you do have is more important. That is how you prevent injury.

Post edited by: Dianne, at: 2012/02/23 18:00