Turnout is, of course, the foundation of ballet technique. Unless you are one of the few dancers naturally blessed with near-perfect turnout, then turnout is probably high on your list of things you want to improve. Many dancers will spend load of time stretching into the infamous frog stretch to try to open their hips. However, this stretch will only improve your passive turnout range. In practical terms, practicing the frog stretch will make you better at the frog stretch. That’s pretty much it. How much of your dance class or choreography is spent if the frog stretch position? Not very much, I’m guessing.
If you do not have the strength or neuromuscular control to accompany your flexibility, it does not matter how much passive range of motion you have in your hips. You will not be able to use your turnout range while you’re actually dancing.
This turnout exercise is a great way to fire-up and strengthen your turnout muscles at the same time as improving your active control – so that you can use your turnout when you need it. Add this exercise to your warm-up to prep your turnout for class and sneak in some strengthening cross-training at the same time! Aim for 10-12 reps each leg.
This video is one of my *hopefully* many tips to help you sneak some cross-training into your busy schedule. Check out my post here for more info.
Once you master the exercise in this video, move on to the exercise in Part 2.
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