Arabesque

In ballet, arabesque is a position of the body in profile, supported on one leg. The supporting leg can be straight or in demi-plié with the other leg extended behind and at right angels to it, the longest line made possible from the fingertips to the toes.

 

Cecchetti Method has 5 basic arabesques displayed in the picture above.

The Cecchetti method is a ballet technique and training system devised by Italian ballet master Enrico Cecchetti. The method has a definite program of strict routine and includes a table principle set daily exercises for each day of the week. The Cecchetti arabesque method uses five principle arabesques. In first arabesque, the body is held upright from the waste and is supported on a straight leg with the other leg extended and at right angles to the supporting leg. The shoulders are held square to the line of direction with the arms extended. In second arabesque, the arms are reversed so that the forward arm is the opposite to the supporting leg. In third arabesque, both arms are extended forward to the side of the supporting leg and the fingertips of the arm farther away from the audience are in a line with the center of the space between the eyes while the arm nearer the audience is in a line with the shoulder. In fourth arabesque, the supporting leg is nearer the audience and is in demi-plié. The arms and head are held as in the first arabesque with the arm on the side of the raised leg being forward. In fifth arabesque, the arms and head are held as in the third arabesque with the arm farther from the audience being the higher. The supporting leg is the leg nearer the audience and is in demi-plié.


The Russian (Vaganova) ballet method was developed by Russian dancer Agrippina Vaganova. It specifies four different arabesque positions in classical ballet, each one subtly different than the one preceding it. In Vaganova’s first arabesque position, the dancer stands facing the front left corner of the stage, with the left foot in front (efface position). The dancer raises her right leg in arabesque behind her and extends her right arm towards the audience, extending the left arm towards the front left corner. In second arabesque, the dancer arranges her legs as in the first arabesque position – the right leg is extended behind her in arabesque, and the left leg is the standing leg. She extends her right arm directly in front of her and extends her left arm slightly behind her left shoulder. In third arabesque, the dancer raises her left leg behind her in arabesque. The right leg is the standing leg. She extends her right arm to the side, pulling it slightly behind her shoulder, and extends her left arm to the front. In fourth arabesque, the dancer arranges her legs in the same formation as the third arabesque. She extends her right arm out to the front, and extends her left arm as far back as possible so that the right and left arms create a continuous line front-to-back.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmRrfm1ihGg 

This video is an example of the Cecchetti methods with a few extra bonus moves.
-BMD