Arabesque
is one of the basic poses in Ballet. Arabesque takes its name from a form of
Moorish ornament. In ballet it is a position of the body, in profile, supported
on one leg, which can be straight or on demi-plié, with the other leg extended
behind and at right angles to it, and the arms held in various positions
creating the longest line from the fingertips to the toes. The shoulders must
be held square to the line of direction.
There
are different types of Arabesques. In first arabesque the body is held upright
from the waist and is supported on a straight leg with the other leg extended
and at right angles to the supporting leg. The shoulders are square to the line
of the arms extended. In second arabesque the arms are reversed so that the
forward arm is the opposite of the supporting leg. The head is slightly
inclined and turned toward the audience. In third arabesque both arms are
extended forward to the side of the supporting leg. The fingertips of the arm
farther from the audience are in a lone with the center of the space between
the eyes while the arms nearer the audience are in a line with the shoulders. In
fourth arabesque the supporting leg is nearer the audience and is in demi-plie.
The arms and head are in the third arabesque with the arm farther from the
audience being the higher. In fifth arabesque the arms and head are in the
third arabesque with the arm farther from the audience being the highest. The
supporting leg is the leg nearer the audience and is in demi-plie. The fourth
and fift arabesques are usually taken facing the right front corner of the room
if the supporting leg is the left or facing the left front corner if the
supporting leg is the right.
