Five Common Ballet Mistakes and How to Fix Them
When you are starting out in ballet, it is natural to pick up a few bad habits. The good news is that once you become aware of them, most are easy to fix with some simple corrections.
Improving small details like posture, alignment and placement can make your dancing look more graceful and feel more comfortable.
Here are five of the most common beginner ballet mistakes - and how to correct them.
1. Standing with a Tilted Pelvis
The mistake: Many beginners tuck their pelvis under too far, let it tip forward, or lift one hip higher than the other. This throws the spine out of alignment and makes movements difficult and feel uneven.
How to fix it: Think of your pelvis as a bowl of water - you don’t want it to spill forwards, backwards, or to either side. Stand tall, gently engage your core and keep your pelvis neutral so your hips stay level. Your weight should feel evenly balanced over both legs.
2. Forcing Turnout
The mistake: Trying to rotate the feet too far outwards often leads to twisted knees and rolling ankles and feet. It will be uncomfortable and can cause injury.
How to fix it: Only turn out as much as your hips allow. Imagine spiralling the legs outwards from the top of your thighs, rather than pushing from the feet. Quality of movement is far more important than forcing a perfect first position.
3. Dropping the Elbows
The mistake: In port de bras (arm movements), elbows often drop below the hands or shoulders, giving the arms a collapsed look.
How to fix it: Picture your elbows floating slightly higher, with energy flowing out through your fingertips. A good visual is to imagine balancing a beach ball under each arm - rounded, lifted and light (as you can see from Rhea on the the right!).
4. Looking Down at the Floor
The mistake: Many dancers tilt their head down, either to watch their feet or from habit. This can make the whole body look closed and heavy.
How to fix it: Lift your gaze. Keep the back of the neck long and imagine a string pulling the crown of your head upwards. Your dancing will immediately look more open and confident, again beautifully demonstrated by Rhea!
5. Gripping the Barre
The mistake: Beginners sometimes hang onto the barre for balance, gripping tightly or leaning into it. This reduces core strength and can create uneven alignment.
How to fix it: Use the barre lightly - just the tips of your fingers resting on top, not wrapped around. Imagine you could let go at any moment and still stay balanced.
Final Thought
Every dancer, no matter their level, needs reminders about posture, placement and alignment. By becoming aware of these small details and making simple corrections, you will not only improve your ballet technique but also enjoy dancing more.