Jean-Georges Noverre (1727–1810) is often called the father of modern ballet, not because he invented steps, but because he rethought why dancers move. In his influential book Letters on Dancing and Ballets, Noverre argued that ballet should express feeling and story, not just technical brilliance. For him, technique only mattered if it supported clarity, ease, and emotional truth onstage.
I have been reading his book again because I find a lot of his information fascinating.
When Noverre discussed turnout, he was notably cautious and forward-thinking. He warned against forcing turnout from the feet or knees and insisted it must originate naturally from the hips. Among the most important exercises, he emphasized slow, fundamental movements practiced with care. Pliés were essential for gently opening and aligning the hips, while controlled battements helped strengthen outward rotation. Noverre also considered rond de jambe especially important for turnout because of its circular action at the hip, which trains both mobility and sustained rotation. As he wrote, “The circular movement of the leg frees the hip and accustoms it to remain turned outward” (Noverre, Letters on Dancing and Ballets, trans.). Practiced calmly at the barre, rond de jambe reinforced both strength and suppleness, encouraging a natural, functional turnout rather than a forced one. These principles remain central to ballet training today.
References
Noverre, J.-G. (1760). Lettres sur la danse et sur les ballets. Paris.
Noverre, J.-G. (2004). Letters on Dancing and Ballets (C. W. Beaumont, Trans.). Dover Publications.