02/23/2026
Turnout in dance is more than aesthetics – it’s also essential for good, healthy technique.
Young dancers often think of turnout as the angle produced by the feet, and try to put their feet into as much turnout as possible. Often they will use friction forces from the floor to hold the position, rather than using internal forces generated by the muscles in the hips. This results in over-rotating at the feet and ankles, producing a “rolled in” or pronated position and puts additional stress on the big toe, arches, knees, and low back. These forces increase as a dancer grows, starts pointe work, and is given more challenging choreography. Eventually, the compensations and lack of foundational strength can turn into problems ranging from difficulty performing steps to pain and/or significant injury.
Dance medicine specialists can help you achieve your best turnout by helping you to understand your unique anatomy and learn how to get the most out of your range and strength potential.
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