Positions of the arms

What does “Positions of the arms” mean in ballet?

There are two basic positions of the arms. In one, the dancer keeps the fingers of both arms almost touching to form an oval/round shape, either near the hips, at navel level, or raised above the dancer's head. In the other, the arms are extended to the sides with the elbows slightly bent. These positions may be combined to give other positions. Different schools, such as Vaganova, French, and Cecchetti, Russian often use different names for similar arm positions. The Russian school names three arm positions while the other schools name five. Bras bas ('arms low') (RAD)/bras au repos ('at rest') (French), preparatory position (Rus.), or fifth en bas (Cecc.) holds the arms low and slightly rounded near the hip. First position holds the arms round or oval in front of the body somewhere between the naval and breastbone (depending on the school and movement), the fingertips of the hands approaching each other. In Cecchetti, the hands stay a little lower at tutu height. Second position in all schools holds the arms extended out to the side, the inner part of the upper arm parallel to the ground with the forearms and palms facing the audience. The roundness and shoulder height of the arms varies by school. Third position in the French/RAD schools holds one arm in second with the other arm in first. The Russian equivalent of this may be petit bras . [ citation needed ] Third position in Cecchetti holds one arm in a Cecchetti first and the other arm in demi-seconde . Third position in the Russian school holds both arms slightly rounded overhead. This is equivalent to fifth position (en haut) in other schools. Fourth position or fourth ouvert ('open') consists of one arm en haut ('high,' i.e. raised overhead) and the other open to second position. This is called fourth en haut in Cecchetti. The Russian school does not designate a fourth position; the Russian equivalent may be grand bras . Fourth position croisé ('crossed') or Spanish fourth in Cecchetti consists of one arm en haut and the other held in first position/Cecchetti fifth en avant . Fifth position in the French/RAD schools and fifth en haut in Cecchetti holds the arms en haut slightly rounded, fingertips approaching each other. This is called third position in the Russian school, which does not designate a fifth (or fourth) position. Cecchetti also recognizes a fifth en bas , the preparatory/bras bas position in other schools, and a fifth en avant , arms rounded between naval/chest height, known as first position in other schools. Additionally: Demi-bras ('half arms') holds the arms between first and second position, outstretched with palms presented towards the audience. Demi-seconde ('half second') holds the arms low out to the side as if grazing the tutu, palms generally down.

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

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