CROISÉ, EFFACÉ OR ÉCARTÉ? Directions, facings and body positions in Ballet Class | natalie danza

The body directions and which way you face in ballet can be confusing especially for a beginner!
Today I'm going through some of the main positions (en face, croisé, effacé and écarté) as well as two systems for numbering the directions you face in ballet (1-8 Russian and R.A.D. methods).
PLEASE NOTE - I demonstrated these positions using the example of tendus but you can do many more ballet movements from these positions /directions too.
Here are the french terms and what they mean (these are just my general definitions, please check the exact definitions of your school or style in particular):
EN FACE means facing - the dancer is facing directly towards the audience.
CROISÉ means crossed - the dancer is facing a diagonal with one leg crossed or crossing in front of the other.
EFFACÉ means shaded - the dancer is facing a diagonal with one leg in front of the other but in an open position.
ÉCARTÉ means separated - the dancer is facing one of the diagonals with one leg a la seconde. There are two types of écarté - devant and derrière.
Link to an image of the directions 1-8:
thedancebuzz.blogspot.com/2010...
My leotard: amzn.to/2WQugQD

[@SarahJamera]

this was exactly the video I needed! I literally couldn't find anything as detailed as this, because epaulement really does confuse me 😂 thank you for continuing to create quality content!

[@NatalieDanzaBallet]

Yay! I'm so glad it was useful! :)

[@estefaniaarellano6621]

Thank you, Natalie! I’m trying to improve this for tendu and jeté excercises. Your video has been really helpful. :)

[@jjlametc]

thank goodness for your video. i go to adult ballet class and it was so quick the other day that my mind exploded and couldnt keep up 😂 now i can practise at home!!

[@kidcoto]

Agreed! This is also one of the best explanations I've found for a beginner on how to do and distinguish the different positions of the body. So, so helpful - thank you. After watching this, it finally clicked for me! Thanks so much, Natalie! You're a great teacher.

[@NatalieDanzaBallet]

Thank you so much, I’m glad it helped! ☺️

[@flightydancer]

You explained these really well! Good job!

[@katherinedelacruz9876]

where was this when i was in class looking like a hot mess hahah better late than never

[@X_bear486]

I needed this so much because I have a quiz on this today thank you so much

[@britanipourabdi2923]

Such a good explanation!🎉

[@candidacarino669]

Thank you very much to @ Natalie Danza.

[@zaakhard]

Love this video thanks for sharing Natalie 😍

[@NatalieDanzaBallet]

Thanks for watching! :)

[@coachaniket]

Thanks a lot!! You're an amazing teacher:)

[@NatalieDanzaBallet]

Thank you so much ☺️

[@shekinahzahab]

This is a great video! May Jesus bless you. Thank you! 😊

[@gimnasiaenesp]

Super cool video! So good explanations!!

[@NatalieDanzaBallet]

Thanks so much!

[@annoshakb]

Thank you, this has been very helpful~

[@NatalieDanzaBallet]

I’m so glad 😃

[@emilliavalerieva1611]

i needed that so much! thank you!

[@NatalieDanzaBallet]

My pleasure ☺️

[@elijimenez7710]

So helpful! Thanks a million ❤

[@NatalieDanzaBallet]

My pleasure ☺️

[@Betahms]

Now I finally understand what is écarté, thank you!

[@NatalieDanzaBallet]

Yay! That makes me so happy! Thanks for your comment! :)

[@Betahms]

@@NatalieDanzaBallet Thank you for the great content!

[@amandascott9560]

Good refresher! Just what I was looking to confirm. It was a little hard to hear you with the echo though. Use a mic in the studio to stop the echo. Keep them coming! ❤️

[@NatalieDanzaBallet]

Thanks, will do!

[@zecalimazeca]

thank you, I was looking for the face directions numbers. hugs from Brazil

[@NatalieDanzaBallet]

Un abrazo desde España 🤗

[@ChaoticCaitlin1]

I needed to find a video like this before my grade 3 ballet exam. Thank you

[@NatalieDanzaBallet]

Awesome! Hope your exam went well :)

[@nehadhawan9623]

Thanks so much Natalie.. this was so helpful... regards

[@NatalieDanzaBallet]

I'm so glad! Thanks for watching :)

[@reisfraudo6721]

Thanks this was really helpful! 😊

[@NatalieDanzaBallet]

I'm so glad :)

[@rosalbatrentin489]

Merci beaucoup Très bonne pédagogie !!

[@NatalieDanzaBallet]

Thank you ☺️

[@sothathappened]

thank you SO MUCH!

[@NatalieDanzaBallet]

Pleasure! Thanks for watching :)

[@AnYiii194akemiaiko]

Necesito estás mismas direcciónes pero al trabajar en la barra .

[@posypoodle6034]

Hi, what result did you get in your intermediate? Did they ask about these positions? X

[@NatalieDanzaBallet]

I got a distinction in the RAD Inter exam. These positions are used but they didn't ask about them specifically :)

[@roniharper9546]

Helpful explanations (vs the GGrant pencil drawings!) but the descriptions were hard to understand because of the echoing quality of the sound recording.

[@NatalieDanzaBallet]

Yes, sorry for the sound quality. Thanks for watching :)

[@stersss]

I am not sure, but I learned facing the audience in Checcetti is number 5?

[@NatalieDanzaBallet]

Yes, exactly. 1 begins from the front right corner and goes round anti-clockwise which means 5 is the front finishing 8 to the right side. :)

[@meganbrunel2630]

Where is your leotard from? Love it 💖

[@NatalieDanzaBallet]

Thank you! It's this one: amzn.to/2WQugQD

[@greenteawithbees]

My ballet teacher calls efface ouverte, is this the same thing?

[@linathomopoulou7887]

Yes I think it is the same! You can say it either way :)

[@NatalieDanzaBallet]

Yes, ouverte means open so you can use it to refer to effacé and other things too! :)

[@raktimamalhotra7128]

Beautiful accent ❤️

[@NatalieDanzaBallet]

Thank you :)

[@leiceagacata2966]

Yo no entender pero sacarme 10 en la prueba senk

[@laylanahar]

I like how your last name is almost 'dancer'

[@NatalieDanzaBallet]

It means dance in Spanish! (It's not my real last name though unfortunately) :P

[@papaqlitabriz.]

Youe voice is not clear

[@elizabethjaramillo8]

It's too much talking... omg.

[@normamimosa5991]

No turnout!

[@NatalieDanzaBallet]

I'm doing my best as an adult dancer :)