Improving Ballet Tunout?

I posted anohter question a few days ago about how to retrian my body for ballet after 8 years of not dancing. I got a lot of great answers, and I was just wondering if anyone knew of any excercises to improve turnout? I did ballet for 8 years on and off, and then stopped completely when i was 14. Im now 21 and about to take ballet again at my college, just for fun not anything serious, but Im really trying hard to get back at least some of my abilties. Turnout is one of my biggest concerns right now. Anyone know anything, stretches, excercise, whatever, that can help me to improve my turnout?

Improving Ballet Tunout?theatre tickets

okay you can sit in the butterfly stretch position and stretch over foward and while you do this use your hands to push your legs down closer to the floor.

heres a picture: http://gvctemp17.virtualclassroom.org/sp...

but instead use your hands or elbows to push your legs down closer for a deeper stretch

and you can do the frog stretch which is

http://gvctemp17.virtualclassroom.org/sp...

both of these stretches really help with turnoutt... i should know its a problem i have myselfff =]

also when you dance keep in mind to always turn out from your hips.

and any stretch you do, whether it be a split or any kind of stretch, you should always work on turning out while doing it. That will train your body to turn out.

Improving Ballet Tunout?opera house opera theater

ok, you should never try to exagerate your natural turnout, but ehat you can do, is try to turn it out a little bit each time you dance. hope this helped :0)
heres one. This one works best without a barre and with arms in first position.

Standing in first position bring your right foot to sur le cou depied, now turn your working knee in (parallel) and out (turn out) again. Do this for 30 reps in and out. Switch legs.

Of course maintaining proper ballet posture the whole time, repeat as often as you like. Some people feel it the working leg, I actually feel my standing leg is the one working. It feels really good to me, like Im using a muscle in there I dont normally use, cept when it cramps. lol.

Tell me what u think.
i showed this video to someone else wondering about how to improve turnout, i hope it wasn't your question

this is a good exercise to strengthen your turnout muscles.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wa-0NRMg8...

to stretch them, sitting or lying down with your legs in this position is the most helpful.

http://images.jupiterimages.com/common/d...

http://www.equitrekking.com/new/images/t...

you can try to relax and just imagine your knees falling to the ground or you can gently bounce them. or turn over onto your stomach and bring your legs to the same position, put your hands by your shoulders and push up as you arch your back as far as you can.

also, in class (especially at barre) whenever you are coming up from a plie, concentrate on trying to get your inner thighs to rotate to the front (but make sure you arn't tucking your butt under). always remember that turnout has to come from your hips, don't try to force it or you will end up injuring your knees.

good luck!