Ballet is a type of dance that has been around for centuries and is highly choreographed and structured. Ballet dancers must learn the various ballet positions in order to be successful in their art form.
The various positions are fundamental to the style and technique of ballet. There are five primary ballet positions, with a sixth position that is often seen as a variation of the fifth position.
The first position involves the feet being parallel, with the heels touching and toes pointing out at an angle. This is referred to as the first arabesque position.
It is named after the Arab word “arabesk”, which means “ornamental” or “decorative”. This position is used for jumps, leaps, turns, and other movements.
The second position requires that one foot be placed directly in front of the other with both heels touching. This is known as second arabesque and it helps dancers maintain balance when performing difficult steps.
The third position requires both feet to be turned out at a 45 degree angle from each other with both heels touching. This is known as third arabesque and needs to be mastered in order to do more complex steps.
The fourth position requires one foot to be placed slightly behind the other with both feet still turned out at an angle of 45 degrees from each other. The fourth arabesque also helps keep balance when doing more complicated moves.
The fifth position requires one foot to be placed slightly ahead of the other with both feet still turned out at an angle of 45 degrees from each other. The fifth arabesque helps dancers maintain their posture when doing more intricate steps.
The Sixth Position
Some people consider there to be six basic ballet positions; however this sixth position isn’t really considered an independent stance but rather a variation or extension of one or more of the five original positions: grand plié (or deep knee bend), demi-plié (half knee bend) or sauté (jumping).
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are five primary ballet positions: first arabesque, second arabesque, third arabesque, fourth arabesque and fifth arabesque. However some people consider there to be six basic ballet positions by adding grand plié (or deep knee bend), demi-plié (half knee bend) or sauté (jumping) as a sixth position. Ultimately it depends on what your teacher considers as accepted ballet positions for their classes.