Cecchetti Grade 1 Practice Exam

Maintaining a safe, aligned knee during an extended leg movement relies on a long, clean line from hip to toe. The knee should be straight but not locked, because a locked knee loses control and can compress the joint; a slight softness keeps the supporting muscles active to guide the leg. The patella should track over the toes, showing the knee stays in line with the foot and avoids inward or outward drift. Turnout from the hip is essential to position the thigh correctly and guide the knee in the same plane as the foot, reducing stress on ligaments. Bending the knee or loosening turnout would disrupt the extended line, while a rigid torso that ignores turnout makes it harder to maintain proper alignment. This combination keeps the knee protected and the leg properly extended.