What You'll Learn
- How to optimize your fourth position to create a powerful preparation for pirouettes.
- The anatomical difference between the front and back hip in fourth position and how it affects turnout.
- Strategies for managing hip impingement while maintaining proper alignment and core engagement.
- How to correctly move the femur bone in the hip socket to avoid cranking the feet.
- The transition from technical barre exercises to functional movement during center combinations.
About This Video
The fourth position is often one of the most misunderstood and challenging placements in ballet. While it serves as the launching pad for many of our favorite turns, its complexity lies in the asymmetrical demands it places on the hips. In this deep-dive Q&A session with Broche Ballet, we explore why the fourth position is so much more than just crossing one foot in front of the other.
One of the core concepts discussed is the 'spring-loading' effect required for a successful pirouette. To achieve this, a dancer must understand the relationship between the front leg, which mimics an attitude front orientation, and the back leg, which mimics an attitude back orientation. This difference in hip flexor positioning means that achieving a perfectly even turnout is anatomically difficult.
The further you cross your feet into a 'tight' fourth, the harder it becomes to keep your pelvis stable and your femur bone rotating correctly within the hip socket. We also tackle the reality of hip impingement. For many adult dancers, the structure of the hip can limit the depth or crossing of the fourth position.
The instructor demonstrates how to work within your own range of motion to avoid pinching or pain, emphasizing that proper technique is about functional movement rather than forced aesthetics. You will learn to focus on the rotation of the leg within the hip rather than simply cranking the feet on the floor. By the end of this video, you will have a clearer understanding of how to transition from the technical precision of the barre to the functional power needed for center work.
Whether you are struggling with your passé balance or looking to add more rotations to your turns, mastering the nuances of the fourth position is the key to leveling up your ballet practice.
