ABSTRACT
First Position In Western dance the feet are understood to be as close as possible to the point where the line of the center of weight (the plumb line) meets the floor, as shown in 59b-d. Any specific rotation of the legs (not written here, but necessary in stating balletic and other movement styles) does not change the basic relationship of the supports one to another or to the center of weight. The 'false' first position referred to by Feuillet, where the feet are turned in, as in 5ge, is written with the same place direction symbols, but because of the inward leg rotation, the toes are touching instead of the heels. If legs are parallel, the inner edges of the feet will touch. With marked outward rotation it is the heels that touch. (See Fig. 68d for the appropriate pins to use when the side-by-side relationship of the feet needs to be specified.)
Third Position This position is basically the same as first in that the supports are directly beneath the center of weight, that is, in place. The difference lies in the relation of the extremity of the legs, i.e. the feet, one being diagonally in front of the other. A black pin is used to show this relationship, the point of the pin indicating the appropriate diagonal relationship. The position can be described in terms of one foot being diagonally in front, 60a, or the other foot being diagonally behind, 60b. The choice depends on which foot is active. Both pins are used, 60c, when both feet are active at the same time, as when the dancer springs up and changes the foot position on landing. The illustrations here show third position with the right foot in front. Third position with the left foot in front is the same, but reversed laterally. In writing starting positions only one pin is needed, although both can be shown.
