Arts & Culture
The Five Positions of Ballet Feet Explained
Quick fact
These positions were standardized in the 1660s by Pierre Beauchamp, Louis XIV's ballet master, and have remained virtually unchanged for over 350 years.
Why this is interesting
You've likely seen ballet dancers glide across the stage with their feet turned outward—but did you know their feet follow just five fixed patterns, each with a number and a precise geometry?