Whether a dancer has too much or too little, turnout can be one of the most frustrating aspects of technique. Students often feel they must achieve 180-degree rotation to become successful in the field. In reality, the average person only has 45 degrees of external rotation in each leg, meaning their first position should be no greater than 90 degrees.
Because range of motion in the hip is ultimately determined by the joint’s structure, it is impossible for dancers to increase their structural turnout. Often, though, students do not use what they have to the greatest potential. By maximizing their mobility they will find greater ease within movement, improve lines and, most important, prevent injuries caused by forcing the joints.
Deborah Vogel, co-founder of the Center for Dance Medicine in New York City, says the best way to unlock external rotation is to balance out muscle strength and flexibility. “Dancers are working the turnout all the time. They’re always engaged and focused so much on using it. The minute they learn how to release those muscles they bring everything into balance,” she says. “That middle is where dancers last the longest.”
Here, Vogel suggests exercises that stretch and strengthen the muscles that activate turnout:
Sitting Stretch: For Stretching Turnout Muscles at the Back of the Pelvis
Sit on the edge of a chair with knees at a 90-degree angle and feet flat on the floor. Cross the right ankle onto the left knee. Lace your hands together and nestle them under the right knee, lightly pressing energy into your hands and toward the floor (though the knee should not actually move). Sit up straight—some may already feel tension here.
With a flat back, bring the belly button toward your legs. Continue gently pressing the right knee into your clasped hands.
Experiment with turning the upper body toward the knee or the foot to stretch different muscles.
