https://www.danigracedances.com/blog daily 0.75 2026-09-23 https://www.danigracedances.com/blog/ballet-basics-with-dani-grace-five-positions-two-feet-and-absolutely-no-noodle-arms monthly 0.5 2026-09-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69d7f1af26b66335d4d19bf0/cc4c6fe8-dbba-42fc-b800-5a95e2c6e6c3/collage+all+positions.png Blog - Ballet Basics with Dani Grace: Ready, Set, First Position! - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69d7f1af26b66335d4d19bf0/f8fba673-d40e-4ffd-9ed8-5e6e4294c6f1/1stpoition.png Blog - Ballet Basics with Dani Grace: Ready, Set, First Position! First Position: Hug the Invisible Beach Ball Start with your heels together and your toes gently turned out, making a little V with your feet. Now round your arms in front of your belly button as though you’re hugging an enormous beach ball. An invisible beach ball, obviously. Bringing an actual one to ballet class might raise a few eyebrows. Stand tall, relax your shoulders, and resist the urge to squeeze that imaginary ball flat. Dani Grace’s tip: You’re going for graceful ballerina, not someone trying to carry every grocery bag into the house in one trip. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69d7f1af26b66335d4d19bf0/773f6157-053e-4b54-ac10-42e5c5571417/ChatGPT+Image+Sep+22%2C+2026%2C+01_24_13+PM.png Blog - Ballet Basics with Dani Grace: Ready, Set, First Position! Second Position: Arms Open Wide Move your feet apart while keeping your legs turned out from the hips. Open your arms softly to the sides. Keep your shoulders down, your chest open, and your hands relaxed and rounded. Second position is also a great place to practice a plié (plee-AY). That’s a knee bend, and dancers use pliés to prepare for jumps, land softly, and stay balanced. Yes, even bending your knees has a fancy French name. Welcome to ballet. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69d7f1af26b66335d4d19bf0/420b3347-38d4-48c2-b8a2-70dc5c728668/3rdposition.png Blog - Ballet Basics with Dani Grace: Ready, Set, First Position! Third Position: One Foot, One Arm, One Big Question Place one foot in front of the other, with your front heel near the middle of your back foot. For your arms, round one in front of you in first position and open the other to the side in second. Now switch sides. Wait. Which arm goes where again? If you need a moment to untangle yourself, you’re in excellent company. Learning ballet sometimes feels like asking your arms and legs to follow two completely different sets of instructions. They’ll figure it out. Eventually. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69d7f1af26b66335d4d19bf0/ef6ede32-d28b-4c42-9e3d-ecf06d53ce37/4th+position.png Blog - Ballet Basics with Dani Grace: Ready, Set, First Position! Fourth Position: A Little Space, a Lot of Balance Place one foot in front of the other, leaving some space between them. Lift one rounded arm overhead and keep the other rounded in front of you. Look at you! You’re practically posing for a ballet poster. Fourth position can challenge your balance, so take your time. You don’t need to wobble dramatically to prove you’re working hard. Although if you do wobble, we’ll pretend it was choreography. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69d7f1af26b66335d4d19bf0/ce831fef-c5b8-4d44-b461-b6f8dc4a5d44/5th+position.png Blog - Ballet Basics with Dani Grace: Ready, Set, First Position! Fifth Position: The Grand Finale Bring your feet into a close, crossed position, with each heel near the opposite foot’s toes. Now raise both arms overhead in a soft, rounded circle—like a halo. A ballet halo, that is. No actual angel wings required. Fifth position takes practice. Don’t force your turnout. Remember, turnout comes from the hips—not from twisting your knees or ankles. And remember: strong arms, not floppy noodles! 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