Dance Dictionary: Arabesque

“May You Always Dance Lightly With Life.”

- Jonathan Lockwood Huie

Arabesque: [a-ra-BESK]

The name Arabesque originates from a form of Moorish ornament of Arabic culture. Arabesque is a ballet pose that is learned from the start of an early dance career. Young children generally learn to arabesque by turning out a straightened supporting leg, and pointing that back ankle, while holding light, dainty arms.

The position is most typically held by the body in profile, meaning you face the side, or at an angle to the audience. Coming with a rule of thumb that the dancer is supported by one leg, with the other elevated behind themselves, aligning the hips, the leg in the air at a ninety degree angle to an obtuse. Note also that the dancer’s shoulders should remain relaxed and held back, and squared to the direction that is being faced. There are many ways in which you can hold your carriage, for example the dancer can be straight, in plie, or on releve while in an arabesque position. Dances also can conclude arabesque hops, or pique arabesques to add more levels to just an upper, lower or midway supporting leg. Arms in performing an arabesque should reach and extend outward, it should be light and dainty, to show the fluidity in a different, difficult arabesque combinations.

The forms of arabesque are varied to infinity. The Cecchetti method uses five principal arabesques; the Russian School (Vaganova), four; and the French School, two. Arabesques are generally used to end a floor combination, both in the slow movements of adagio and brisk, quicker motions through allegro. 

Source:http://www.learntodance.com/online-ballet-dance-lessons/

~Julia Brewer