Front stance
Hold 10sAlso called: front position, front pose
- Stand with the feet close and one hand resting lightly at the waistband, which opens a gap between arm and torso.
- Pull the shoulders back and down and lift through the chest, letting the V from shoulder to waist do the work.
- Flare the lats just enough to widen the frame without the pose reading as a bodybuilding spread.
- Draw the stomach in on the exhale and hold it; this division is scored on the taper more than on any single muscle.
- Hold a relaxed expression and look at the judges rather than past them — presence is explicitly part of the score.
Common mistakes
- Spreading the lats hard enough that the pose reads as bodybuilding
- Pressing the resting arm flat to the side and closing the gap at the waist
- Bracing the stomach visibly instead of drawing it in
- Looking past the judges rather than at them, which costs the presence score
Quarter turn right
Hold 10sAlso called: first side position
- Turn ninety degrees on the balls of the feet in one movement rather than stepping round.
- Keep the shoulders squarer to the judges than the hips, which is what shows the width in profile.
- Let the near arm hang with a soft bend so the elbow does not pin against the ribs.
- Hold the stomach in and the chest up as you land, so the profile shows the taper rather than a rib flare.
- Settle completely before the judges read you; the pose starts when the movement stops.
Common mistakes
- Stepping round instead of pivoting, which arrives out of position
- Turning the shoulders as far as the hips and losing the width in profile
- Trapping the near elbow against the ribs
- Being read by the judges while still settling
Back stance
Hold 10sAlso called: back position, back pose
- Turn away and set the feet close together, keeping the weight even so the hips stay level.
- Spread the lats to their width and hold the shoulders down so the taper runs to a narrow waist.
- Keep the arms slightly away from the body so daylight shows on both sides of the torso.
- Hold the head up and square, looking straight ahead rather than over a shoulder.
- Stay still for the whole turn — the judges are comparing frames, and a shift reads as a lack of control.
Common mistakes
- Standing with the feet wide, which tips the hips out of level
- Letting the shoulders ride up as the back opens
- Pinning both arms against the torso so the waist cannot be seen
- Turning the head over one shoulder instead of facing straight ahead
Quarter turn left
Hold 10sAlso called: second side position
- Mirror the first side exactly — the same foot placement, the same shoulder angle, the same arm.
- Rotate on the balls of the feet again rather than pivoting on a heel, which shifts the hips.
- Keep the far shoulder from creeping forward as you arrive, which would close the chest.
- Hold the waist drawn and the ribs down so both profiles read the same width.
- Finish square and still, with the eyes back on the panel before the count begins.
Common mistakes
- Landing this side differently from the first, so the pair does not match
- Pivoting off a heel and dragging the hips round with it
- Letting the far shoulder come forward and close the chest
- Arriving with the ribs flared on one side only