Ballet Turnout?

Question:Hey, I have a real problem with my turn out. I do ballet and my turn out in fifth position is not that good. If I push my hips too much I end up rolling my feet inwards and my hips go out of alignment. I also have large thigh and calf muscles and I think this sometimes prevents me keeping my knees straight while in fifth position. Am I right about that? Does anyone have any suggestions or exercises that could help me?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: Hey, I have a real problem with my turn out. I do ballet and my turn out in fifth position is not that good. If I push my hips too much I end up rolling my feet inwards and my hips go out of alignment. I also have large thigh and calf muscles and I think this sometimes prevents me keeping my knees straight while in fifth position. Am I right about that? Does anyone have any suggestions or exercises that could help me?

You need to work on two things:

1) You need to stretch the front of your hips (hip flexors and soaz), and your hamstrings and IT bands. This will help you get a better fifth and you will be able to straighten your legs all the way.

2) You need to strenthen your inner leg muscles and the muscles that are right underneath your bottom. This will help you keep your fifth position tight and you will be able to work from a tighter fifth position in your center work. Also its very dangerous to roll in fifth positon. Doing so can cause muscle and ligament damage in your knees.

Try a pilates class, its so great for dancers!

I had that same problem too. What I did is every day for a week i did the splits and grand jatos. It may sound silly but it works.