Bad turn out

[Guest 4dancers]

I have really bad turnout. My hips are very tight and don't move much. Will this keep me from dancing proffesionally??? (excuse the spelling) Is there any way to improve my turn out other them the froggy sit???

 

 

-Amy

Edited January 12, 2006 by 4dancers

[Victoria Leigh]

Hello 4dancers, welcome to Ballet Talk for Dancers

 

We cannot tell without seeing you whether your lack of rotation is such that it would prevent you from dancing professionally or not, but your teachers should be able to give you some idea of what your chances might be. Don't forget that if you are still very young, there are several years left for improvement, and there are LOTS of things you can do besides the "froggy". The most important thing is to learn how to really work your rotation well in classes, especially at the barre, where you have many exercises that work on developing better rotation.

[Guest Katalina]

One exercise that I do to help my turnout is to start in right splits and hold it there for two minutes go to middle splits hold it there for two minutes and then switch to left splits and hold it there for two minutes or you can just do it by just switching from right and left splits. Hope I helped!

[Guest 4dancers]

Thanks!!

[Guest balletgirl116]

Well- you're not alone. My turn out is not the greatest but neither was Amanda McKerrow's. Turn out helps but in the long run won't keep you from dancing. I've been doing the frog everyday for 6 months now and my legs are almost flat now. Just keep froggy stretching as well as stretching your glutes- they help too.

[Victoria Leigh]

Read the second post on this thread, balletgirl. There is a lot more to rotation than froggy stretching. Also, while somewhat less turnout might not keep one from dancing professionally, it is always a matter of degree. Someone with very little rotation will have a seriously hard time. It can't be forced, and, while it can be improved, how much it can be improved is always relative.

[Guest Tagiloni]

Some people just can't achive 180 turnout, just because of the way they are put together. If you think you can go further than what you can do, maybe you need to strengthen your muscles? After all, they are what keep your legs out in the first place.

[Guest Elizaboo]

I can completely relate to you. My turnout is not great, because my hips are really tight. I have goofy legs, and I can get to and keep my feet in a straight line forever, but it isn't turnout from my hips and it isn't good! My teachers have always had to remind me all the time to turnout from my hips. The only things that have helped me is just working at the barre forever and ever and REALLY concentrate on using the right muscles. Also, ask your teacher to watch you very closely and assist you if you aren't turned out enough. I had one teacher who really helped me that way. Good luck!

[Guest pinkroses]

No worries: my turnout is not that good either. I have forced it by rolling forward on my feet at times, although my friend did that and got injured.

[Guest pinkroses]

Sorry - hit "add reply" too early.

Anyway, just be patient. Don't focus on it, there is more to technique (and ballet) than just turnout.

[Mel Johnson]

NEVER! EVER! force turnout. It is a recipe for big trouble sooner or later. Your friend got it sooner. You may very well be in line for pain later on. And turnout is pretty basic. You can't get away with what passed, say, fifty years ago.

[Guest pinkroses]

I know, I know.

 

i will stop

[Guest pinkroses]

I just read back on what I wrote and it really looked like I was suggesting forcing turnout, which i was not, in any way! To be more specific, i was saying I have learned firsthand that it's not a great idea, because I think I even pulled a muscle in my knee and one in my hip once, even though I only forced my turnout for a few classes. Now I'm just sticking it out and doing what I truly can turnout-wise. Back to what I was saying before, be patient. Also, both my ballet and jazz teachers tell us to RRRRRESIST when plie-ing! Pull yourself UP! Hope this helps

[Guest hdbdancer]

omg! i have the same problem! and my teacher just compleatly smashed my dreams to aspire to a pro dancer. but i am not going to let that stop me from at least trying and i think that you shouldent either. i mean its people like us who go down in hystory for making it through thick and thin and finally acheiving our goal. so i say -- keep up all the dancing, and im not really shure of any other streches besides the froggy one... (that may be why i have such bad turnout... ) good luck!

 

[Edited to correct computerspeak]

[Mel Johnson]

With all due respect to the late Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, The Power of Positive Thinking is not unlimited. You may continue to study until you drop, if that's what you enjoy, but a career in ballet is not something that very many students will reach. It's a very tight, very small world, and not very many at all will make it. Dance for enjoyment if there's not the chance of advancement to a professional career. Many people have danced in civic ballet companies their entire lives and gotten satisfaction.