How to Land in Fifth When Doing Pirouettes

Ballet is a type of dance that includes six basic foot positions from which all movements originate. Fifth position requires the dancer to externally rotate her hip joint as much as possible, ideally so her toes, knees and ankles are pointing directly to the side of her body. One leg is crossed in front of the other, heel to toe. Pirouettes, an exercise where the dancer spins around multiple times while standing on one leg on tip-toe, often end in fifth position. Pirouettes may take years to master, and landing in fifth position is a challenge that requires strength, flexibility, coordination and technical mastery.

Things You'll Need

  • Ballet slippers
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Instructions

    • 1
      Pirouettes are commonly performed in retiré, with one leg drawn up high and the foot placed just above the knee.

      Build strong turnout and core support in fifth position by taking ballet class at least twice per week. Turnout refers to the external rotation of your leg in your hip socket, and causes your thighs, knees, ankles and foot to point outward. Your fifth position needs to be strong during barre exercises and center work before you are able to land in fifth position when doing pirouettes. Focus on attaining a technically correct fifth position during every exercise while maintaining proper alignment of the spine, hips, knees, ankles and feet.

    • 2

      Perform a controlled pirouette. Landing in fifth position is especially difficult if you are spinning off-balance. Achieve a controlled pirouette by practicing your pirouette position without turning. Then practice maintaining a solid, upright position during a quarter, half, full, and double pirouette. Do not use too much force or throw yourself into the turn.

    • 3

      Slow your pirouette down before you land. Many dancers have difficulty landing in fifth position because they are overturning, with the momentum of the pirouette continuing to rotate their bodies and pulling their feet out of position. You must use your legs like brakes, slowing down the pirouette before you land in fifth position. Slow down by externally rotating your leg more. The faster the pirouette, the more you need to externally rotate your leg. This slows you down because your leg is creating force in the opposite direction of the pirouette, acting like a brake. The best dancers can stop their pirouette and hold the pirouette position for a full second before landing in fifth position.

    • 4

      Keep your lifted leg very close to, or in contact with, your standing leg as you slide it down to the floor. Allowing your lifted leg to move away from your standing leg throws off your balance as you finish your pirouette, making it difficult to land in fifth position.

    • 5

      Land with your knees bent and your heels down, a position called plié in ballet. Squeeze your legs and push your knees outward, promoting strong turnout, to complete the braking action you worked on during step 3.