Tell your students to put their hands on their hips and their feet together. Show them the correct ballet stance with their stomachs pulled in and their backs and knees straight.
If you see students standing with swayed backs, bent knees or slumped shoulders, gently correct their alignment. Tell them to imagine they are wearing a beautiful crown on their heads to remind them to stand up straight.
Instruct students to maintain the placement of their upper bodies as they move their feet into the five basic positions. Tell them to look at themselves in the mirror as they learn the positions to make sure they keep the correct posture.
Put your own feet into first position with your heels touching and your feet and legs turned out. Tell students to make a "V" or "pizza slice" with their feet to help them understand the shape. Remind students that there should be no space between their heels or legs in first position, as though their heels are "kissing" one another.
Point your right foot to second position so your feet remained turned out but your heels are apart, directly under your hips. Each student can adjust the width of the position to suit his body size. Have students turn sideways so they can use the studio mirror to make sure their heels are even.
Bring your right foot across your body slightly so your right heel meets your left instep. Tell students that when they look in the mirror they should see only one heel, but two sets of toes. Check each student to make sure they maintain the turnout on their back legs. Repeat with the left heel in front of the right.
Slide your front foot from third position into fourth position. In fourth position, the legs remain slightly crossed with the front heel in line with the instep of the other foot, but there is a space between your feet. Tell students to spread their feet so they can fit one foot between them. Help the children focus on keeping their weight evenly distributed between both feet with both legs equally turned out.
Show your students fifth position, in which the front foot crosses entirely over the other. Tell them to make the heel of their front foot touch the toes of the other. Make sure they do not force their turnout from the knees in this position. Instead, focus on turning out from the hips.