The sauté position has you leaving the ground using both feet and landing with both feet at the same time. The relevé position can be done on one or two feet. Keep your knees straight and focus on putting weight on the balls of your feet and not the tips of your toes. Start with both of your feet together and lift your heels high enough that you are putting all your weight on the balls of your feet. Relevé is a common position used in a variety of ballet movements. This is another position where you’ll benefit from having flexible hips, which will prevent your rear end from sticking out. As you first start practicing this position, bend your knees slowly while keeping your upper body straight. Pilé is an excellent position to master as other positions and movements often begin and end in plie.Īs a beginner, you can use a ballet barre to help you maintain your balance as you get used to the pilé motion. Both feet should be flat with most of your weight on the balls of your feet. To do this position correctly, you want your knees to hover directly over your toes. Pilé is a relatively simple position that involves bending both knees at the same time. Take your time with practicing the other positions to avoid injuring yourself. The toes on one foot should be in contact with the heel on your other foot as much as possible. 5th position is similar to 4th position, but this time you want both your feet to be in contact with each other. Again, having flexibility in your hips and hamstrings will help make this position more accessible. 5th Position Ballet Movesĥth position is quite demanding and requires you to put in some practice with the other positions. This will help you master a smooth transition from 3rd to 4th position. When you’re in 3rd position, imagine you’re sliding your front foot towards an imaginary audience. The space in between your feet in this position should be enough for one of your feet to fit in. The main difference is you’ll be sliding your front foot directly out in front of you. 4th Position Ballet MovesĤth position is very similar to the 3rd position in terms of visual appearance. Finding ways to loosen your hips and hamstrings should make this position easier to achieve. If you’re a beginner, don’t force yourself into this position as you may injury your knees.

You want the heel of your front foot touching the arch of your other foot. If you’re having trouble getting in this position, begin in 2nd position and slide one foot towards the other. Although most contemporary performers prefer the 5th position over the 3rd, this is still a good position to have in your arsenal. 3rd Position Ballet Movesģrd position introduces a sudden jump in difficulty. Positions 1 and 2 are basic ballet moves that will make other movements easier to master. The more you practice these basic ballet moves, the more natural this position will become. If you can’t get your feet turned out all the way, go as far as possible without losing your balance. Both balls of your feet should be turned out. Keep sliding until you can fit 1 and a half of your feet in the space between your legs.

Once you find yourself in the 1st position, slide one foot away from the other.

2nd Position Ballet MovesĢnd position is closely related to the 1st position. Keep practicing these basic ballet moves until balance in this position comes naturally. Your heels should be as close as comfortably possible without them touching.Īs a beginner, you’ll notice your feet are rolling forwards, or they’ll be turned so far out that you may feel like you’re about to fall. The sole of your foot and your toes need to be in contact with the floor. Your goal when practicing this position is to be as comfortable and as balanced as possible. Most of the advanced positions you’ll end up practicing start from the 1st position. Mastering the 1st position will put you in a good place to learn other crucial ballet skills. This post looks at 8 basic ballet moves for beginners that will help you kick start your ballet journey! Mastering one position helps you build a foundation that makes it easier to pick up the basics for other positions. There are many different positions that may seem difficult to master, but all you need is practice. Ballet is an intricate art that can be overwhelming for beginners.

Basic ballet moves for beginners