How to Improve Ballet Turnout

How to Improve Ballet Turnout Quickly and Easily

Turnout is a necessary component of any successful ballet career. If you want to excel in your transition from student to professional, you need to ensure your turnout is always at its best. Luckily, it doesn’t take years of practice to improve your turnout. With a few simple steps your turnout can be improved fast and easily.

Steps for Improved Turnout:

1. Create a powerful connection from your legs to your core. Work on strengthening the muscles in your arms, back, inner thighs, and buttocks. This will give you a more stable base of support and help you hold your turnout for longer periods of time.
2. Remember to engage your abdominals and find a neutral spine when turning out from the hips. This will eliminate some of the unnecessary force placed on the lower back.
3. Warm-up with abduction exercises like clamshells, hip-thrusts, and side-lying leg lifts. These exercises will help open up your hips and give you more access to your turnout.
4. Stretch all of the surrounding muscles. Make sure to hold all of your stretches for at least 30 seconds. Target any tight or sore areas and be sure to stretch the lower back, outer thighs, IT band, calves, and chest regularly.
5. Activate all of the muscles in your legs when you dance. Work the muscles on the back of your leg, your buttock, and your core. This will give you more control over your turnout when you move.
6. Approach your turnout from different angles. Challenge your range of motion by combining it with other placements and turns.

Improving your turnout doesn't need to take years of practice - by following these steps your turnout can be quickly and easily improved. Remember to stay consistent with your practice and stretch regularly to maintain your improved turnout.