1st position

[Guest balletluver13]

A friend of mine recently was teaching me the five basic positions, and she told me that first position is having your feet in a v like this \/, but all the books I've read say to have your feet straight like this --. I'm more inclined to trust the books, but my friend took ballet for like 3 years. I'm wondering if she was taught wrong in some quacky school or something.

[Victoria Leigh]

The degree of turn out of the feet in first position depends on the amount of rotation one has from the hips. Some dancers do not have much natural rotation, and therefore cannot achieve a "true" first position. Most people do not start out with a 180 degree angle of the feet, and some never achieve it. But one must come as close to it as possible, within the limits of their ability. Very young children are generally started in a position which is more like a "V", but older beginners can sometimes work with a bit more rotation than that. It depends on your structure.

[Guest balletluver13]

I can achive the "true" position, but I don't know whether the turnout is coming from my hips or my knees. Is there a way to tell?

[Victoria Leigh]

Yes.......with a TEACHER watching! Please do not try to teach yourself ballet, nor allow a friend to show you. Before you learn to stand in first position you need to learn how to align your body and place your body weight and then HOW to rotate within this alignment.