Ballet Positions
There are five basic positions in ballet with a couple variations. The basic five were set by Pierre Beauchamp in the late 17th century. The different schools of ballet have slight variations which are explained on this page below.
First Position
In First Position the dancer stands with feet turned out and heels together.
The Arms of First Position
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Vaganova or Russian School and the French School – The arms are curved and the finger tips are in line with the navel.
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The Cecchetti Method – The arms are curved and are down next to the dancer’s thighs.
Second Position
In Second Position the dancer stands with feet turned out and with heels about one foot apart.
The Arms of Second Position
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Vaganova or Russian School – The arms are curved and out to the sides. The shoulders are lower than the elbows and the elbows are at the same level as the wrists. Palms are facing forward.
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French School and Cecchetti Method – The arms are curved and out to the sides. The shoulders are higher than the elbows which are higher than the wrists.
Third Position
In Third Position the dancer stands with the feet alined as in first position but the heel of one foot touches the inside arch of the other foot.
The Arms of Third Position
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Vaganova or Russian School – Arms are curved as in first position and raised above the head and slightly forward.
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French School – One arm is in first position and the other in second.
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Cecchetti Method – One arm is in first position and the other is in demi-second.
Fourth Position
In Fourth Position the dancer stands with feet turned out and one foot is in front of the other with heels in line with each other. This is called open fourth. When the front heel is in line with the back toe it is call closed fourth.
The Arms of Fourth Position
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The French School – One arm is in first position, the other is rounded and raised above the head.
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The Cecchetti Method – There are two fourth positions called fourth en avant and fourth en haut. Fourth en avant (in front) is where one arm is in second position and the other is in fifth front. Fourth en haut (high) is where one arm is in second position and the other is in high fifth.
Fifth Position
In Fifth Position the dancers stands with feet turned out with one foot in front of the other. In open fifth the front heel touches the inside of the back toe. In closed fifth the front heel touches the top of the back toe.
The Arms of Fifth Position
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The French School – The position of the arms is called, bras en couronne where both arms are rounded and held above and slightly forward of the head.
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The Cecchetti Method – The arms are rounded with fingers close together. They can be en bas (down), en avant (forward – Russian and French first position), and en haut (high – Russian third position).