Though different dance schools have different positions, my ballet school had the following: first position, second position, third postion, fourth position and fifth position.

First position is the easiest yet even if you feel confident, if you want to be a real ballerina, you must still learn it. I got taught it in grade 1. Here are some tips for first position :

• My first tips is STRAIGHT LEGS (unless your asked to bend them. A bend in ballet language is called a plie but we will talk about this later on.) Make sure to always have your knees pulled up. This might feel quite bad but as you practice, it will get easier and easier. 


• Unless your asked, ONLY have your hands in brabar position. This position has your arms down and we will talk about this one later on as well. 


• Keep your feet turned out! This is important because having your legs in parallel doesn't make it first position! 


• Here is how a first position will look like:

First position in ballet

Second position I got taught in grade 2. It's a position where both of your legs are out. Some tips are:

• Have your hands in second position as well when asked. This position is where both of your hands are out. We will talk about this later.


• Have straight legs unless asked. Again, have your legs pulled up!


• Keep your feet turned out. 


• Make sure to have your legs turned out when bending super super SUPER


• Here is how second position will look like:

Second position in ballet

Third position is also taught in grade 2. It's a little bit like first position just the feet cross over. Here you must turn your feet out even more! Try these tips:

• When bending your legs, turn your knees out super duper EXTRA


• Have straight legs unless bending them.


• Have them a little bit crossed over, if you cross them over too much it will look like fifth position but if too less, it will look like first position!


• This position is commonly used with the arm position brabar


• This is how third position looks like:

Third position in ballet

Fourth position is normally taught in grade 2. It's really important to remember that there are 3 types of fourth positions; fourth opposite first, fourth opposite third and fourth opposite fifth. First has legs most to he sides then fifth more together. Here are the tips. 

• When practicing, slide your legs back together to see if your in the correct fourth. Lets say your practicing fourth opposite first, if you slide your legs back together you should land in first position


• Have your feet and knees turned out


• Make sure that you know it's tricky to do a bend in fourth without putting your heels up


• Keep your legs straight unless asked


• Here is how fourth position looks like:

Fourth position in ballet

Fifth position is normally taught in grade 4. This is because it's harder to hold in place, balance with and turn out very much. Some tips are:

• Turn your feet out as much as possible. That is what makes it a fifth position.


• Touch your toes to your heels


• Have VERY straight legs unless your meant to bend them.


• Practice balancing this position with a bar.


• Here is how a fifth position looks like:

Fifth position in ballet

Those are the five main positions. The next chapter will be about arm positions yet wait! Here are some important tips for all of these positions:

• Turned out feet


• When bending, start turning out your knees


• Unless bending, always have straight legs


• Bottom in


• Ribs in


• Belly in


• Face straight ahead unless asked


• When pointing to or from that position, point your toes as MUCH as you can!