How to Create the Visual Effect of Greater Turnout (en dehors)?

Turnout in Ballet: How to Enhance It Visually?

Turnout – or co called en dehors – is one of the fundamental building blocks of classical ballet. It's not only a technical requirement but also an aesthetic ideal that every dancer strives to achieve. But what if nature hasn’t gifted us with the perfect 180° rotation from the hips?

Don't worry – there are visual tricks that can make your legs appear more turned out on stage or in photos than they actually are. One of the simplest and most effective of these is the correct way of tying your ribbons on pointe shoes or ballet shoes.

Inner Ribbon Over the Instep – A Small Trick, Big Impact

This simple yet surprisingly effective tip involves tying the inner ribbon of your pointe shoe diagonally over the instep, rather than wrapping it horizontally around the ankle.

This creates the effect of:

Emphasizing the "en dehors" line,
Visually lengthening the leg line,
Creating a more “open” stance – giving the impression of greater turnout from the hips.

How to Do It

Pull the inner ribbon slightly diagonally upward across the instep – ideally directing it toward the outer ankle.

You can enhance this effect even further by sewing the inner ribbon onto the pointe shoe at a slight upward angle from the start, so it naturally follows this line when tied.

Comparison: Traditional vs. Visually Enhanced Turnout

At First Glance – A Subtle Difference, but Clear to the Trained Eye

Traditional ribbon tying: neutral – the legs appear straight.
Adjusted ribbon tying: the en dehors line is visually stronger, the insteps look higher, and the stance appears more open, refined, and elegant.

Final Word

“Turnout of the lower limbs is the foundation of classical ballet. If perfect 180° turnout wasn't in the cards for us, we can still support our personal maximum by tying the inner ribbon over the instep. This highlights the en dehors direction and makes our line appear more convincing... The muscular work, however, is up to you.”

Remember: optical tricks are wonderful for the stage or for photos, but true turnout comes from technique and conscious bodywork. Still, this simple tip can help fine-tune your visual impression – and sometimes, that small detail makes a big difference.