The most important exercises in learning ballet I
have found are those that work on strengthening the muscles that
are necessary in the performance of ballet. TURNOUT
The most important exercises in learning ballet I
have found are those that work on strengthening the muscles that
are necessary in the performance of ballet.
Of most importance is "learning" the concept of"turnout." I have learned that it is a thing of your mind,telling your muscles literally what to do. It is a processof imagining your thigh and hip muscles 'turning out'. Iwill place my hands on the front of my hips and thighs and push gently around to the outside thighs, and thento the back, meanwhile concentrating and telling mymuscles to follow. It takes a lot of time, and concentration, but I have found that it has worked forme. I can feel those very muscles strengthening. I amhoping before long that it will become an unconsciousprocess, in which I will not have to think about it, and it will just happen.
POSTURE- This is another concept in which mind over muscleconvenes. We have all been told to hold the head up, in fact stretch your whole body upwards, as though you are being pulled from a string attached to the top of your head. Again, when I am holding my posture, I view my body as being stretched from the top. The easiest way to describe this process is to think of going 'UP' and 'UP'. To pull yourselffrom the bottom of your feet and up through your body
