Romantic Time Period

(1820-1900)

Peter Tchaikovsky

Great Russian composer living during Romantic Time Period

Wrote 3 of the most notable ballets of all timeThe NutcrackerSwan LakeThe Sleeping Beauty

Ballet

5 Basic Ballet Positions

When you begin learning ballet, one of the first things you will learn is the five basic ballet positions.

They are important because every basic move in ballet begins and ends in one of the five positions.

Proper body alignment and good posture are necessary when learning these moves, which are simply named first position, second position, third position, fourth position and fifth position.

First Position Feet

In first position, the balls of the feet are turned out completely. The heels touch each other and the feet face outward, trying to form a straight line.

Second Position Feet

The balls of both feet are turned out completely, with the heels separated by the length of one foot. Similar to first position, but the feet are spread apart.

Third Position Feet

One foot is in front of the other with the of the front foot touching the middle of the back foot.

Fourth Position Feet

The feet are placed the same as third position, but one step apart.

Fifth Position Feet

With both feet touching, the toes of each foot reaches the heel of the other

1st Position Arms This is the main Ballet position of the arms for beginners.

Keep your arms nice and relaxed, and roughly the width of your face apart. Your hands shouldn't be touching your thighs. Keep them just an inch or so in front of you.

2nd Position Arms Your arms out to the side should form a smooth line. Don't

do the 'Dead Bird' thing here. Your elbows should be facing the back of the room. Extend your hand comfortably and keep it relaxed – no pointing!

3rd Position Arms This is bringing one arm only in front of you, leaving the

other in second position.open them.

4th Position Arms This is one arm raised and one arm in second. The arm that

is raised should be opposite to the foot you have in front. So if your right foot is in front, you raise your left arm.

5th Position ArmsFinally, raise both arms. As with all these positions, make sure that it is your arms that are raised, and NOT your shoulders. Arms should be look smooth with your elbows and hands softly rounded (and definitely no pointing). You are executing Ballet positions, not directing traffic!

Let’s Practice!

Plié Literally "bent". A smooth and continuous bending of the

knees Demi Plié Grand Plié

Releve Literally "lifted". Rising from any position to balance on one or

both feet on at least demi-pointe which is heels off the floor or higher to full pointe where the dancer is actually balancing on the top of the toes, supported in pointe shoes. Smoothly done in some versions, a quick little leap up in other schools.

1st or 5th Position

Arabesque Arabesque indicates a position of

the body where the dancer stands on one leg, while the other leg is extended behind the body, with both knees straight. The arabesque position can be performed with the supporting leg and foot either en pointe, demi pointe or on a flat foot.

Sauté

Sauté means “to hop” in French. This term is added to the name of a step to indicate that the step is performed while jumping.

Piroutte

body spin when dancing: a spin of the body, especially one performed in ballet on tiptoe or on the ball of one foot