How to Do the 5 Basic Positions | Ballet Dance

So first position is when your toes are apart and your heels are squeezed directly together. A lot of people try to turn out the toes too much, and this creates stress in the knees, so follow your natural turnout line, and stand fully supported, very tall, making sure you're not rolling onto the inside of your foot, or rolling to the outside. Make sure that your feet and your weight are directly over and centered onto your toes. And then your arms are going to be like a round beach ball, and you should have your arms directly in front of your belly button not too high and not too low so directly in front of your belly button, your chest is open and your shoulders are down and you are engaging your back, and you stand in first position.

Second position, your arms and legs are out to the side, and you actually want to gauge the length of your second position by putting one toe next to your heel, then opening it up, and then extending it a little further. you shouldn't have too wide a second position, or too narrow, because you wont be fully supported when you're moving around in that position. Second position arms are rounded and slightly forward, you dont want to throw your arms too far back, so keep them nice, round, and forward, and that's second position.

Third position is used on a very basic level. It is when you are practicing to get to fifth position. You want to put your heel in the centre of your foot, and stand with both feet firmly on the ground, feet turned out. Your arms are going to come one high above your head and one directly to the side. Make sure that both arms are rounded and that your chest is lifted and your neck is long.

Fourth position, your leg comes out, and your heel is going to try to become in front of that toe, and your arm is going to be coming in front of your belly button. We want to make sure that your fourth position is not too wide, just like second position, and not too narrow. You want to have a pretty narrow fourth position, which will help you when you do turns in the centre.
Fifth position, both arms are up very high, and your chest is open, shoulders down, and your feet and heels are going to be connected. You don't want to try to squeeze your turnout and make both feet and heels connected fully, you want to follow the natural line of your turnout, and make sure that when you pliet, your knees are going directly over your toes.

So standing in fifth position, your arms are going to go all the way up, like this, and thats high fifth, and then low fifth, your arms are down here.

[amandaprewer]

I started ballet when I was 23 years old you're never too old or too young for ballet.

[reyemtiw]

Hi. Im a guy and I started at 30. Have a degree in Russian Civilization which led me to love ballet. I still use it as simple exercise at 66. I’m not very good but I’m in great shape for my age. It’s a great complement to the gym.
I got to work in Russia and have seen the Bolshoi snd Marinsky.
I LOVE Maya Plisetskaya the Prima Ballerina Assoluta of all time wished I had see her. Perfection!
Check out her work if you’ve not seen it. 👍🏼

[rainheartz]

I took my first ballet class when I was about 4. My teacher didn’t like that I couldn’t do the splits and anything like that which obviously made me feel like I shouldn’t be there. Not once did she try to help me in anyway which quickly lead me to quitting within a week.
I’m now 15 and want to try ballet again. I’m more confident and I want to see how far I can go :)

[flamingo]

I've been in ballet since I was 3. I never grew out of it. I love it, and it is a part of my life. I don't know what I'd do if I couldn't do ballet.

[abigaillilinoe]

I want to do ballet but I’m 13, should I start

[semajecuffie]

0:32 first position
1:19 second position
1:50 third position
2:12 fourth position
2:34 fifth position

[jennabrannon]

i took ballet one when i was really little, but now i'm starting back at level three with girls who have all done it before xo this is mega helpful, i'm basically binge watching everything there is to learn for ballet haha

[nahuelg]

it's never too late! I'm 23, male and never did anything relating to dancing. Ballet is great!

[ericabeardsley]

Okay, so I'm almost 16 and I'm starting to teach myself ballet, and I was wondering if it wasn't necessarily a bad thing? I mean, most people say that you should start pretty young, but I couldn't for various reasons, and I always thought I could never be a dancer because of that. Is this the case, or will it just be harder for me and take longer for me to acheive?

[florecoessens]

I'm 14 and I always wanted to start ballet. But since my bones are not flexible, it always discourages me. But now I'm ready and trying

[sarebearxx]

Once she finished the second position i forgot the first 😂

[luluwerner]

Yesterday I took my first ballet class! I'm 21. Just do it :)

[pamelareid]

I'm nearly 37 and just started adult ballet and loving it 😍

[nina-phmw]

I started ballet when I was 4, but then I quit when I was 6. Today I’m starting again at grade 2/3 ish, and I’m really scared! 🤞🏻

edit: i have done dance for a year and a half now. i am now grade 4, and have also started tap, modern and lyrical, and was meant to be doing a competition in may but it was cancelled. if anyone is thinking of started- just go for it!!

[olmatekain]

When I was a kid I really wanted to dance we didn’t have the money for lessons and everything we still don’t lol I’m never going to dance seriously but it’s cool to learn what I wasn’t able to and it’s fun to move 😃

[Bboyroninja]

I’m 22 looking to expand my creativity with a new style. This is great thanks!

[evadhupia]

I did ballet for as long as i remember so my neighbor never did ballet I should her this video and she learned the positions when I teach her it doesn't work but thank you for teaching her the simple positions.

[soapmaker]

Uh, 43 soon, just started ballet, and loving it. I am naturally quite strong, my body shape menifests nothing about ballet, but love my instructor and enjoying this disapline so very much. Not everybody needs to be a professioanl! It is a great addition to my life!

[mooninsignal]

As someone who is going to start ballet classes in one month, I am very worried that I am unable to open my feet that much, is that natural or do you have to train for that?

[hithere]

A chiropractic adjustment video mentioned "third position", and here I am. Great video.