Hi,
I am a disco dancer, I just joined ballet and I have really bad posture and my hips are always twisting and my back is never up straight, advice would be great,thanks! X

Stop twisting your hips, and stand up straight!

Seriously... if your hips are in the right position when you start the movement, then there is a point in the movement where they move into the wrong position. You need to identify that point and find another way to tendu without moving your hips.

Could it be that maybe you're trying to extend your tendu too far? I used to twist my hips in order to get a higher arabesque. Try placing your hands on your hips so you can identify the point where you start "twisting."

As for your posture... It's just a thing of habit. My posture SUCKED when I first started ballet. You just always have to be aware of pulling up and back (but not drastically).

Hope I helped!

If you just started ballet recently, it's not too surprising that there are technical issues that you don't have under control yet. It's really to your credit that you realize you have these problems -- realizing is half the battle (well, in the case of ballet, maybe it's 1/4 of the battle)...

I'm wondering if you are trying too hard to turn out your legs, and if that is causing the twisting in your hips. Turnout comes from the hip sockets, and should not actually twist the pelvis. If this sounds like a possibility, try standing in a moderate first position, and experiment pointing to the front and side, watching yourself in a mirror. Try turning your working (tendu) leg out as much as you can without the pelvis getting involved. Then rotate it all the way inward. This way you can discover your own range of motion. Everyone's is different.

It may also help to use the image of the shoulders and hips having to keep a constant relationship when you do your tendus, especially to the front and side, to start. If you think of your shoulders and hips forming a rectangle, that rectangle can not be broken by moving your torso or your hips out of that shape.

Hope some of this makes sense, and might help you! Enjoy your ballet classes.

If your hips twist when you do battement tendu a la seconde, you may not have the hip structure that allows you to carry the leg completely to the side without twisting the hip. Make sure you are not carrying the leg too far a la seconde.

Ballet technique is very difficult and different than other forms of dance, so don't be too discouraged! You will catch on.

If you're just starting, then please do the tendus with your hands on your hips ... right at your waistline, elbows out. This will keep your body from twisting, and will steady the torso. If you feel the right way to do it then you can work on doing it without your hands on your hips.

Good luck!

You should try to make sure that your pelvis stays straight meaning that your pelvis bones (front and back ones.) stay in a straight line. You should stand in front of a mirror put both of your fingers on your pelvis bones and make sure that your fingers make a straight line not a diagonal line. If they do make sure that your tailbone is facing down. To make your posture better make sure you hold your center this also helps with balance. One more thing make sure that you are not sitting on your hip that is closet to the barre. If you're not sure exactly what you need to fix ask your teacher! And remember there are four things you must do in ballet asses the problem, realize that you have the problem, find a way to fix the problem, fix the problem.