How to Do the Arabesque in Ballet Dancing

Video Transcript

" Hi! My name is Connie Hale and thanks for joining me here at expertvillage.com. We are going over some beginning classical ballet moves. We are now going to move into arabesque and attitude. Arabesque is facing to the side starting in fifth position. One arm is reaching in front over to the side for proper positioning. We step forward, leg comes up to arabesque and down. A couple of pointers you want to make sure you are doing. You do not want to lift with the butt. We do not want dogs in a fire hydrant when not opened. You want to make sure your hips are parallel facing towards you; then the leg lifts up. When you are beginning with arabesque, it is important to remember that it is not height. What is important is technique. Technique is key so again hips are facing front. We lean it forward, up and down. Arasbeque other side, arms, step out, hips are forward, up down. Also notice how you are not doing a teeter totter move. The top of my body is not tipping down as my leg comes up. That would be called arabesque penchee. That is another step where you bring it straight up and down, penchee down but the upper body is staying up. "