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Why do ballet dancers turn out their legs and feet?

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Western dance Egyptian dancing, detail from a tomb painting from Shaykh ʿAbd al-Qurnah, Egypt, c. 1400 bce; in the British Museum, London.

In classical ballet, dancers utilize a technique known as "turnout," which is the outward rotation of the legs from the hip socket.1

This anatomical adjustment is essential for the aesthetic and functional requirements of the art form. By rotating the legs so that the heels touch back to back and the feet form a 180° angle, dancers gain the necessary range of motion to lift their legs high into the air for jumps or arabesques.1

Because ballet movements often place strenuous and unnatural demands on the body’s joints, muscles, and tendons, this technique is developed through rigorous, daily training. Proper execution of these movements, including complex turns like the fouetté en tournant, requires this foundational alignment to maintain the body in its proper condition and prevent injury.12