9 Body Positions of Classical Ballet. Center poses Croisé Effacé Ecarté En face. Ballet Teacher Tips

[@flightydancer]

Great instructions. Very clear and precise! Thank you!

[@SarahArnoldTheAccidentalArtist]

Thank you so much and happy that you found this useful. Best of luck with your dance journey! Sarah

[@RamonFlowers]

When I was studying at SAB, I was told that Barbara Walczak was the creator of the term “B Plus.” Barbara studied with Balanchine from the 1940s to the 1960s, appearing as a soloist with the New York City Ballet. The “B” stands for Barbara, and the Plus was simply her creation to further define the position since she couldn’t really just call it “B" I have heard other people say that the "B" stands for Balanchine, which makes sense, so who really knows?

[@SarahArnoldTheAccidentalArtist]

Well, you were there, not me! Bravo :) I was just told that potential explanation as a student. Both make sense! Thanks, Ramon.

[@sonjatravick9001]

Beautifully and kindly explained. This is lovely. Great reference for students old and young!!!

[@SarahArnoldTheAccidentalArtist]

Thank you Sonja! I am very happy that you found this video helpful. So kind of you to comment. Enjoy your dancing! Sarah

[@normamimosa5991]

You did a better-than-most explanation of the body positions, when you finally got to them. Some may not wait around long enough.

[@SarahArnoldTheAccidentalArtist]

Thank you very much Norma! I appreciate that you watched the entire video and you are right, since I created this video four years ago, I have shortened them. The average length that people watch most videos is less than three minutes :)

[@serbanescusimona]

Great explanation! We mostly use three positions in our adult ballet classes, for tendus especially: croise devant, en face a la seconde and efface derrière, because we tend to work with the same leg in all three positions.

[@SarahArnoldTheAccidentalArtist]

I see :) No écarté yet? Thank you for watching and your comment Simona!

[@seasmiciklas8945]

Can someone please explain efface derriere and croise derriere? Because everywhere I look they do it differently... And then there is epaule derriere? Thank you!

[@SarahArnoldTheAccidentalArtist]

Croise means crossed so the leg is crossed in back of you from the view point of the audience. Your legs make an X. Effacé is an open position and the leg is next to the audience which makes no X from their vantage point. Hope that helps. Epaulé refers to shouldering. Nothing to do with legs :)

[@seasmiciklas8945]

@@SarahArnoldTheAccidentalArtist ok thank you so much1

[@sheilamanzi5139]

Thank you

[@SarahArnoldTheAccidentalArtist]

Thanks so much! Best of luck with your dancing and please let me know if I can help in any other way.

[@shanialaura3723]

I’ve always been taught walls are 1,2,3,4 corners are 5,6,7,8.

[@SarahArnoldTheAccidentalArtist]

That is correct for RAD (Royal Academy of Dancing). So in the Vaganova syllabus, it is the way that I showed it. Cecchetti is different again :)

[@shanialaura3723]

@@SarahArnoldTheAccidentalArtist thank you

[@SarahArnoldTheAccidentalArtist]

@@shanialaura3723 You are welcome and I teach RAD now so was familiar :)

[@SarahArnoldTheAccidentalArtist]

@@shanialaura3723 it can be confusing. Thank you for your question as it may help others!

[@shanialaura3723]

@@SarahArnoldTheAccidentalArtist you know, I’m studying for the RAD program and I’m having a horrifying time trying to understand character as my teachers always skipped it while growing up 🤦🏻‍♀️🙄 so now I’m aware of how to correctly do the steps but understanding the backgrounds (eg. What defines the gr.1 Russian, gr.2 Hungarian, gr.3 Ukrainian, gr.4 Hungarian, and gr. 5 polish.) Could you please do a video explaining this. I’ve only been able to find very minimal resources and have like nobody helping me understand.

[@MouseOnMars100]

I don't get the rules for the arms.. How do I know which one is up and which one is to the side?

[@SarahArnoldTheAccidentalArtist]

In general, when the leg is in an ecarté position, it is the same arm as leg. For front positions of the leg, the arm is opposite. The arm position that i am referencing is third high. Hope that helps! Also if you study a chart of coordinating poses that is very helpful. Just a bit of rote memorization. Best wishes, Sarah

[@MouseOnMars100]

@@SarahArnoldTheAccidentalArtist thank you so much! This is a good memorable tip, and I think i got a better understanding now :-)

[@SarahArnoldTheAccidentalArtist]

@@MouseOnMars100 Oh great I am so glad to hear that! Thanks for letting me know.

[@TamaraMcDannel]

Hello! Is there a proper position of the arms with each direction of the body and legs? Thank you!

[@SarahArnoldTheAccidentalArtist]

Yes, they are as shown but there are some variations for different syllabi-- such as Cecchetti, Vaganova, RAD.

[@TamaraMcDannel]

Sarah Arnold thank you! I’ve struggled with knowing where to place my arms so having a starting point is invaluable.

[@SarahArnoldTheAccidentalArtist]

Wonderful Tamara! A starting point is valuable and then you can go from there :)

[@POLMAZURKA]

show from the back...............

[@POLMAZURKA]

...also tell us whjich is the working leg.................

[@SarahArnoldTheAccidentalArtist]

The working leg is the gesture leg-- the one in the pose.