The basic foot positions in ballet are the foundation for all ballet technique. They are essential for dancers to be able to move correctly and gracefully.
The feet must be correctly placed in order for the dancer to maintain balance and control their body. The five basic foot positions in ballet are: first, second, third, fourth and fifth.
First Position
In first position both feet are parallel and turned out from the hips. The heels should be placed a shoulder-width apart with the toes pointing away from each other. This is the starting position for many steps and is an important posture for all dancers.
Second Position
In second position one foot is placed slightly ahead of the other with both feet turned out from the hips. The heel of the back foot should be touching or almost touching the toes of the front foot with a small gap between them. This position requires strong ankles and a large turnout.
Third Position
In third position both feet are turned out from the hips with one in front of the other forming an angle of 45°.
Fourth Position
In fourth position one foot is placed behind, while the other is in front forming an angle of 90°. Both feet should be turned out from the hips with a small gap between them.
Fifth Position
In fifth position both feet come together, side by side, heels just touching each other and pointing outward from your body at 45° angles.
Conclusion:
The basic five positions in ballet are essential for any dancer to learn as they provide balance, control, stability and gracefulness when performing steps. Once these positions have been mastered then more complex steps can be added to create beautiful routines that capture audiences around world.