Ballet Turnout Exercises: Dance Masterclass Edition

Jenny Henkel
August 1, 2022

Generally speaking, turnout is the #1 defining characteristic of the ballet aesthetic. 

After all, it’s common knowledge that ballet is (for the most part) performed with the legs in outward rotation, otherwise known as turnout. A dancer’s initial plié at the beginning of a ballet class, their jumps, turns and intricate footwork - even a final bow or curtsy at the end of a performance - it’s all turned out, from beginning to end.

So, What Actually is Turnout?

To put it simply, turnout is the outward rotation of the legs in the hip sockets which affects a plethora of other body parts - the knees, ankles and feet, to name a few. We all have a varying range of motion in our joints, so every person’s limits (in regard to mobility) are, of course, different. 

 
There is a common idea among ballet dancers that 180 degree turnout is needed in order to be considered to have good technique but, in actuality, your technique is not dependent on your turnout.

You’ve for sure heard it before that working from your natural turnout is the best possible placement for your unique body, but (and we’re speaking from a first person point of view here) many of us are somehow still guilty of forcing it at least a little.

Between scientists, doctors, dancers and physiotherapists there are enough resources out there today confirming that “natural turnout” is “healthy turnout,” so why do some of us still turn to forcing it? 

Take a look at this link for some shocking info on the dangers of forcing your turnout from a physical therapist's perspective. 

 
Whether it’s external expectations (from your peers or maybe even your dance instructors) or internal pressure (from yourself), forcing your body into uncomfortable and unhealthy turnout placement is not the answer to improving your technique. 

 
It’s true that turnout is essential to ballet, but 180 degrees? Not exactly.

Why is Turnout Important in Ballet?

Let’s say ballet is a lock, and turnout is the key. You can’t have one without the other. (stay with us on this one)

Theoretically speaking, you then need turnout to “unlock” your potential in ballet.

But, while turnout is absolutely crucial to ballet technique, we want to debunk the idea of “perfect” turnout (otherwise known as 180 degree outward rotation in the hip joints) as a necessary characteristic of a successful ballet dancer.

Let’s hang on to this metaphor a little longer:

A key does not necessarily have to aesthetically be any certain way to fit inside a lock. So long as it is cut with technical precision, it will function just fine. The part of the key you hold, its color, the key ring it hangs from…none of this actually has anything to do with its functionality.

So, how does this translate to turnout?

Your turnout, so long as it is applied properly and with the right placement and technique, is unique to your body, and your body alone.

A dancer with 180 degree turnout is not automatically a better dancer. Sure, the increased range of mobility in the joint allows for greater ease in extension, we’re not denying that, but the range of motion in the hip socket is just one factor that makes up the dancer, as a whole. 

“Perfect” turnout is all good and well, but natural turnout is the real focus here. 

Increasing mobility in your hip joint (for greater turnout) is absolutely possible, but it’s extremely important that any “turnout” exercises you do are done with health and safety in mind. So let’s talk about the first step for how to increase it: Establishing Your Natural Turnout.

How to Find Your Natural Turnout

When you step up to the barre to begin a ballet class, it’s often that you start by standing in 1st position. 

At this moment, before you even begin dancing, you might find yourself assessing and comparing your turnout to that of other dancers in the room. This might cause you to inch your toes outward, putting stress on your knees, ankles and feet. While a common habit among dancers, forcing turnout should not be the practice here, but rather working from a place of natural rotation. 

Finding your natural turnout is actually super easy and can be done in seconds.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Lay on your back with your legs extended above you at a 90 degree angle from the hip
2. Flex both feet
3. Rotate your legs in the hip sockets
   
   

• Helpful hint!: This can be done against the wall, for added support, as long as there is no tension between your legs and the wall.
   

That’s it! Notice your rotation when you do this short exercise and how it’s virtually impossible to force it from this position. THIS is your natural turnout.

Once you establish the natural range of rotation in your hips, you can translate it to your dancing starting with the 1st position.

*BONUS* Exercise: 
From a standing parallel position, and without forcing, simply turn out your legs to end in 1st.

It’s important that you turn both legs out at the same time to maintain alignment. So long as you stay true to your natural rotation, this simple ballet move allows you to access an almost endless range of motion.

Not convinced? Check out 0:40 of the video below to see how Balanchine prefaced the movement in his iconic ballet, Serenade (a crowd favorite, for sure, around here) with a simple 1st position.

Master Approved Exercises to Improve Your Turnout

The following exercises, which target specific muscles to support your turnout, come directly from our class on Turnout with Anna Ol, prized dancer with the Dutch National Ballet.

 Grab a mat or simply lay on the floor, and you’re ready to start.

Exercise 1:

• Lay with your back flat on the floor
• Flex your feet and rotate your legs outward
  
  

• Point your toes and bend your knees into a plié position, forming a diamond shape with your legs
• Helpful hint!: keep your heels lifted away from the floor to avoid sickling your feet 
  
  

• Extend your legs from this diamond shape, keeping your knees where they are
• Helpful hint!: at this point, your feet are most likely hovering above the floor
• Without bending your knees, close the legs into a 1st position
  
  

• Rotate the legs inward from the hip and, with straight knees, point your feet

Repeat 10 times.

Exercise 2:

• Lay on your side with one arm outstretched above your head on the floor, your palm facing down 
• Helpful hint!: place the opposite hand on the floor in front of your rib cage with a bent elbow for support. To modify the exercise up a level, try placing your top hand on your hip.
• Stack your feet in parallel, on one top of the other, and point your feet
  
  

• Turn out your legs from the hips then flex both feet in 1st position
• Helpful hint!: your bottom foot will go onto “relevé” to support your alignment. This type of exercise is also great for improving your balance in ballet or any of your other dance classes.
  
  

• While maintaining a flexed position, close the top foot to 5th in front
• Helpful hint!: you may not be able to close the heel to the toe right away, that’s okay! Work in a way that is comfortable and safe for your body.
  
  

• Transfer the front foot back to 1st position and close to 5th in back
  
  

• Return to 1st position to end
• Helpful hint!: Your heels may, or may not, touch in 1st position. Depending on your body, this will differ from dancer to dancer.

Repeat 10 times on either side.

Exercise 3:

• Lay on the floor with your legs at a 90 degree angle against the wall and rotate your legs outward from the hips, flex both feet
• Helpful hint!: be sure to keep your knees straight and press lightly against the wall for resistance
  
  

• Activate your core and keep your rib cage flat on the floor. Don’t forget to breathe!
  
  

• While maintaining resistance against the wall, lower one leg as far as it will go (without pain!)
   

Return to the 1st position and repeat on the other side

*BONUS* Exercise: 
Try lowering both legs at the same time for increased strength and flexibility and close again to 1st position.

• Helpful hint!: keep the core engaged to support the hips in rotation

Repeat 12 times with each leg separately and/or 8 times with both legs, together.

For even more detailed instruction on how to increase your turnout in a safe and healthy way, check out Anna Ols’ full Dance Masterclass and much more in our complete library.

Resources:
(1) Johns, G. G. (2021, May 6). How to improve ballet turnout: 10 steps (with pictures). wikiHow.  Retrieved July 22, 2022, from https://www.wikihow.com/Improve-Ballet-Turnout
(2) Admin. (2016, May 9). Ballet turn out: Stop dancing around the truth about turn out. Athletico. Retrieved July 22, 2022, from https://www.athletico.com/2016/05/09/stop-dancing-around-truth-turn-out/
(3) Exercises for ballet dancers: Improve your turnout. Performance Health. (n.d.). Retrieved July 22, 2022, from https://www.performancehealth.com/articles/exercises-for-ballet-dancers-improve-your-turnout