Ballet Terms

Arabesque

What does “Arabesque” mean in ballet?

In dance (particularly ballet), arabesque (French: [aʁabɛsk]; literally, "in Arabic fashion") is a body position in which a dancer stands on one leg (the supporting leg) with the other leg (the working leg) extended, straight, behind the body. The arm positions can vary and are generally allongé. The foot of the supporting leg may be flat on the floor, on the ball of the foot (demi-pointe/relevé), or on the tips of the toes (en pointe).

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Definition adapted from Glossary of ballet on Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

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