Assignment 20 - Lydia Klumb

How To Do Basic Ballet

I'm only going to explain how to stand in the five main positions used in ballet and the arm positions that go along with them, because they are the simplest things to explain if someone has no previous knowledge of how to do ballet.

First Position

1. Stand with your toes pointing outward.
2. Make your heels touch.
3. Keep your legs straight.
4. Put your arms in a circular shape in front of your chest, like you are holding a beach ball.

Second Position

1. Stand with your feet shoulder length apart.
2. Turn your feet so they are pointed outward.
3. Keep your legs straight.
4. Hold your arms straight out (to the side) from your shoulders.
5. Curve your arms slightly inward, keeping them parallel to the ground.

Third Position

1. Stand with your feet pointed outward.
2. Connect the heel of your right foot to the arch of your left foot, but make sure your feet are still facing outward.
3. Keep your legs straight.
4. Put your left arm straight out (to the side) of your shoulder, curving it slightly and keeping it parallel to the ground.
5. Bring your right arm above your head, slightly curve it, and try to keep the tips of your fingers directly over the middle of your head.

Fourth Position

1. Stand with your feet about hip length apart, with your feet pointed outward.
2. Bring your right foot in front of your left, so that the heel of your right foot is in front of the toe of your left foot.
3. Leave around 2 and a half inches of space between the heel of your right foot and the toe of your left foot.
4. Keep your legs straight.
5. Put your left arm straight out in front of your shoulder, parallel to the floor, with your fingers extended. Raise your arm so that the tips of your fingers are about the same height as the top of your head.
6. Put your right arm straight out in front of your shoulder, parallel to the floor, with your fingers extended.

Fifth Position

1. Stand with your feet pointed outward.
2. Attach the heel of your right foot to the toe of your left foot, keeping your feet pointed out and your body facing the front.
3. Keep your legs straight.
4. Bring both arms in front of your chest and make a circle, like you are holding a beach ball.
5. Raise both arms up above your head until your hands are directly above your hairline, keeping them in the same circular shape.
6. Make sure that your middle fingers have about an inch of space between them.