Feet

[Guest DaNsTa]

Just wondering...When i stand with my feet parallel my knees turn inwards quite a bit! Is this bad?

Thank you!!!!!

Dan

[Mel Johnson]

Nope, actually, it's one of the normal states of things. It even has a name in French - jarreté. I say, that sounds a lot better than "knock-kneed" doesn't it? Back in the eighteenth century, Jean-George Noverre commented that finding a straight-legged dancer was a rare occurence. They're either jarreté or arqué (bow-legged). You have to be careful with jarreté legs, and use the rotation from the hip to the very maximum and make absolutely sure that the turnout extends all the way down the leg to the feet! Keep the knees in line with the toes when in demi-plié!

[Guest DaNsTa]

They tell me there are 2 very important things in Ballet and that us your turnout and rotation. Having known what turnout is what exactly is rotaion. And how can this be inmproved?

Thanks

Dan

[Mel Johnson]

Turnout and rotation are subtly different things, but both ultimately relate to the amount the leg rotates in the hip socket in order to show the feet turned-out. Rotation is turnout, only farther up the leg - at the hip socket! Turnout alone simply refers to how the feet end up on the floor in relation to straight front.

 

There are numerous threads on both subjects all over the Young Dancers' Technique Archive, which I recommend to your attention. And there still should be many threads still up on the active list which also treat of the same. Just open out your preferences to "show all topics" and I think you'll be surprised at the amount of information we have stockpiled here!

[Guest DaNsTa]

Thank you very much for all the help!

Dan

[Mel Johnson]

Hey, that's what I'm here for!