Guest DancingBoi Posted November 4, 2003 Report Share Posted November 4, 2003 Having started somewhat late I realize that I am at somewhat of a disadvantage when it comes to things like turnout etc. My first and second positions are okay they aren't perfect obviously but I can really feel it in my hips. The problem comes when in fourth and fifth. My fourth looks more like an opened third and my fifth looks sort of like a crossed third, if that makes sense. I think that I have a moderate amout of rotation and flexibility in my hips so will my turnout improve as I continue to dance? I also have a hard time holding my turnout while dancing especially when posing or doing balances on one leg and in releve, after a few seconds I have to turn my supporting leg in somewhat or I won't be able to hold the position for long. Are these concerns normal for beginners? Link to comment
Mel Johnson Posted November 4, 2003 Report Share Posted November 4, 2003 Turnout and rotation are different, but related things. Rotation is the turnout which comes from the hipjoint, where it almost all should come from. Turnout is where the feet end up on the floor. Fifth IS a more crossed third position, and there is an open fourth position which is more like opposite first. A fourth position croisé is opposite fifth. In order to keep your rotation at its best, make sure that you feel your spine lengthened, rather than tucking the pelvis in, as that produces a false turnout that will encourage your feet to roll onto the insteps. Link to comment
Administrators Victoria Leigh Posted November 4, 2003 Administrators Report Share Posted November 4, 2003 DancingBoi, it is normal for a beginning student to not be able to maintain rotation when doing lots of things. That's one reason it takes so long to train a dancer! And yes, if there is rotation there, you will continue to improve your use of it with continued training. Link to comment
Paul Parish Posted November 4, 2003 Report Share Posted November 4, 2003 Dancing boy, I had the same problem -- even though I didn't start till i was in my late 30's I had a lot of turnout right away, but couldn't hold it properly -- and I found lots of bad ways of holding it that I had to unlearn -- First of all, you should know that there are anatomical reasons why it's easier to turn out in second and first -- it takes an extra effort to turn out in crossed positions.... that's the way it feels for ALL of us, there's nothing wrong with you. I found myself holding onto my turnout with my feet -- grabbing the floor with my feet and twisting up -- which is exactly backwards. It's taken me a long time to stop, but I'm beginning to find it, through Pilates -- the movement all really has to come from the center of your body, not the extremities, and the turnout has to come from hte lower abdominals and reach towards the floor, not start atthe feet and come up....... This sounds murky, but gotta run to class, so I'll come back and try to clarify this later.... Good luck -- I hope you get as much out of ballet as I do, it means so much to me... Link to comment
Guest DancingBoi Posted November 5, 2003 Report Share Posted November 5, 2003 Whew! After tonight's class the teacher told me how much I have improved and that she thinks I am really talented. That comes at just the right time as I was getting frustrated that I wasn't improving as quickly as I would like. Funny how even though over the weeks I have been learning more that just means I have more to improve on! Thanks everyone for your encouragement and I extend that encouragement to all beginners as well. Link to comment
Mel Johnson Posted November 5, 2003 Report Share Posted November 5, 2003 Whew! I don't know if I can stand this. At the museum today, I helped a researcher find information he'd been seeking for six years, and here there's been a breakthrough to turnout! It's like I told the researcher, "Just keep chipping away at the problem, and eventually the dam will break." Link to comment
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