In ballet, there are five main positions of the feet: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th.
All five positions of the feet in ballet use turnout. Turnout is a rotation of the entire leg coming from the hip joint. The femur head rotates in the hip socket and is controlled by your Gluteus Maximus (or glutes for short) and deep outward rotators (such as Piriformis, Quadratus Femoris). Turnout never comes from the feet or knee, as this puts great pressure and stress on the joints. Additional pressure is placed on your knees and feet from forcing your feet into a flatter turnout than you can control.
A good way to test your turnout is to perform a demi-plié (a bend of the knees) in each of the five positions. When you bend, if your knee is directly over your middle toes, then you have the correct amount of turnout for you. If your knees are pushing forwards, it means that your feet are turned out too much. Remember that turnout can always be improved, but speak with your teacher about specialist exercises to improve this safely and effectively.
First Position in Ballet
With an outward rotation from the hips, the heels are touching and toes are facing outwards. The amount of natural rotation in your hip socket and your control of this turnout will affect the look of your first position – this can range from the feet forming a ‘V’ shape to the feet being in a flat line.
Second Position in Ballet
In second position, the feet are as wide apart as the shoulders, with the legs once again being outwardly rotated from the hips. The feet should match each other – be careful that you don’t have one foot further forward than the other or one foot more turned out than the other.
Third Position in Ballet
Feet in third position is often considered a training position for fifth position. Once students reach a certain standard of dancing, third position is rarely used.
With both legs rotating from the hips, the heel of the front foot meets the middle of the back foot. The turnout on both feet should be equal. Third position can be taken with either the right leg or left leg in front.
Fourth Position in Ballet
Fourth position is a little unusual as it is split into two separate positions: fourth open (fourth ouverte) and fourth crossed (fourth croisé). Fourth open is used much less frequently than fourth crossed but it is still necessary to be aware of this position.
Feet in fourth open have the space of approximately one foot length between them. It is useful to know that fourth open is sometimes referred to as ‘fourth opposite first’. This is because the heel of the front foot is not directly in front of the other foot. It is instead opposite where that foot would be if it were in first position.
Feet in fourth crossed also have the space of approximately one foot length between them. Fourth crossed (sometimes known as ‘fourth opposite fifth’) is where the heel of the front foot is opposite the big toe joint of the back foot. It is opposite where that foot would be if it were in fifth position.
Turnout for both of these positions comes from the hip. The feet should be turned out in equal amounts.
Fifth Position in Ballet
Fifth position is quite demanding and it can take a several years of training to reach complete security with this position. It is often introduced as one of the last positions – the dancer will have been working in third position for many years in preparation. The hips are rotated outwards in equal amounts and the heel of the front foot is placed against the big toe joint of the back foot.
Additional note: sometimes, the heel of the front foot is taken in line with the end of the big toe on the back foot. This is more commonly found in certain schools of technique e.g. Russian method.
And sometimes there is an additional 6th position:
Be aware that some teachers refer to feet together in parallel (no turnout) as sixth position.
One of the most important things when it comes to mastering any ballet positions of the feet is stability. Whether you're wearing ballet shoes or pointe shoes, the focus should always start with this. What's more, make sure that your outfit does not restrict movement in any way. This is why we'd always recommend investing in high quality tights, leggings and shorts which allow for full range of movement.