Expert: Dianne M. Buxton - 3/8/2008

Question
I have two questions, the first is I have slightly hyperextended legs, which make it difficult to stand in first position, my knees overlap... what can I do about this and should I try to not completely straighten my knees?  Second, are there any tips for doing turns en pointe, I have been en pointe for 3 years now and my pirouettes and fouette's are impossible en pointe.  My pique turns are ok, but not great.. I am not good with being on a single leg en pointe.  Any suggestions?

Answer
Hi Melissa. Yes, with hyperextended legs, you hold them straight. It is a challenge, and you need to do this all the time. You'll find that when you can hold them straight, you will be more turned out.

Understanding that turnout comes from the hip rotator muscles under the gluts, helped by the inner thigh muscles, may even help you hold the legs straight. Because when you let the legs hyperextend, you'll feel the turnout turn in.

Theoretically, turns and fouettes on pointe should be exactly like your turns and fouettes on demi pointe. Since I cannot see you, I don't know what you do differently in pointe shoes.

It sounds like you lack strength. However, if  that is not the case, I would guess that your postural plumb line changes when you releve onto pointe. If your leg hyperextends this may be pulling you off your posture, and probably back slightly.

If you get onto pointe in retire position, at the barre, sideways to a mirror, can you see a straight line through your body from your head to the pointe? It would go down through your natural curves, and would be absolutely perpendicular to the floor.

With hyperextended legs, you would need a flexible ankle to get your pointe under your hip joint. Your knee should be exactly under your hip joint, but would be behind it if your leg is hyperextended. I hope you can picture this. If your ankle is not so flexible, then you would be off the platform of your pointe shoe, slightly, or maybe working awfully hard to be right on it.

I would have you practice releves in retire, facing the barre and mirror, not closing in fifth, but just repetitive, 8, or possibly 16, before closing. Watch your supporting leg, keep it straight. If this is difficult, do two releve then close in fifth, 4 times, then change legs.

I hope this helps - basically your posture or retire position is throwing you off. So check your placement in retire also - hips level, shoulders level.

For a routine of strength building exercises I recommend The Perfect Pointe Book. It will help you assess your technique, in great detail. The direct link to it is http://www.linkbrander.com/go/54727 You can also link to it from http://www.theballetstore.com which also has many technical articles, including some on turns which would be helpful too.

Back-peddling to your most basic positions and movements always helps. I hope I have offered some good clues....all the best, Dianne.