Erica Cadago

ABM 12-6

HISTORY OF BALLET
The ballet was birthed during the Renaissance, the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, in Italy.
The Italian noblewoman Catherine de Medici encouraged the spread of ballet at her court while she
was the Queen of France. Terms like “ballet” and “ball” stem from the Italian word "ballare," which
means "to dance”. It was in France that ballet truly flowered, and the form of ballet that’s recognized
today was popularized by Louis XIV, who was a dancer in his youth. In the year 1661, he founded the
Academie Royale de Danse (Royal Dance Academy). Its mission was to certify dance instructors and
properly establish standards for ballet. Soon after, the Paris Opera Ballet was formed, which is why
commonly utilized terms for ballet are usually French words.
At first, the dancers wore masks, layers upon layers of brocaded costuming, pantaloons, large
headdresses, and ornaments. Such restrictive clothing was sumptuous to look at but difficult to move
in. Dance steps were composed of small hops, slides, curtsies, promenades, and gentle turns.
Dancing shoes had small heels and resembled formal dress shoes rather than any contemporary
ballet shoe we might recognize today.
From Italian roots, ballets in France and Russia developed their own stylistic character. By
1850 Russia had become a leading creative center of the dance world, and as ballet continued to
evolve, certain new looks and theatrical illusions caught on and became quite fashionable. Dancing
en pointe (on toe) became popular during the early part of the nineteenth century, with women often
performing in white, bell-like skirts that ended at the calf. Pointe dancing was reserved for women
only, and this exclusive taste for female dancers and characters inspired a certain type of
recognizable Romantic heroine - a sylph-like fairy whose pristine goodness and purity inevitably
triumphs over evil or injustice.
As the centuries went on, ballet fell out of fashion. It might have been permanently lost to
history if not for the Russian company Ballets Russes, run by Sergei Diaghilev. After the Bolshevik
Revolution, Diaghilev’s company became a popular destination for dancers looking to escape famine
and instability in Russia. After being instructed, dancers would either return to their homes or travel
beyond to spread the resurgent art form. As a result, ballet found its way to Germany and the United
States, where it evolved into recognizable but unique styles. Of these, George Balanchine is one of
the best known artists who firmly established ballet in America by founding the New York City
Ballet. Another key figure was Adolph Bolm, the first director of San Francisco Ballet School.

BASIC STEPS IN BALLET

The five basic positions are usually one of the first things taught in a beginner’s ballet class
but are essential to the technique of classical ballet as practically every step begins and ends in one
of the five basic positions.”
The basic positions concern the placement of the feet and are aptly named: first position, second
position, third position, fourth position and fifth position.
First position: The heels are together with the toes of each foot pointed out toward either side, with
legs straight and turned out, following the position of the feet.
Second position: Legs are straight and the feet are turned out to each side like in first position, but
the difference is that the heels do not touch and are instead about hip-width apart.
Third position: This position is rarely used, since it can be mistaken for a sloppy first or fifth position,
BalletHub noted, but it is still important to learn. Begin in first position, and then slide the heel of one
foot so it lines up with the middle of the other foot, keeping both feet pointing out in opposite
directions.
Fourth position: Stand with one foot about a foot’s length in front of your other foot. Each foot
should be pointing in an opposite direction, and the toes of the back foot should line up with the
heel of the front foot.
Fifth position: This position is the most difficult one. It’s like fourth position, but there is no gap
between your feet. The toes of each foot should be directly in front of the heel of the other foot, and
make sure your legs are turned out and straight.

Far from angular and robotic, a ballerina’s arm movements are arguably the most fluid feature of her
dancing. Just like there are five standard positions of the feet, there are also five positions of the
arms in ballet. Working in conjunction with the rest of the body, the arms play a pivotal role in
coordination and expression.
1. First position
First position of the arms is the most common position to begin an exercise at the barre or
combination across the floor. The arms are in a relaxed, oval shape. The elbows are slightly bent,
with the fingers curved below the navel. This position can also be adjusted by raising the arms and
fingers to the level of the breastbone, but no higher. Imagine you’re holding a beach ball, or if you’re
a mother, that you’re cradling your pregnant belly from underneath.
2. Second position
Second position of the arms is often used as a transitional movement, or in presenting your foot to
the audience. From first position, raise your arms to breastbone level, and open. The arms should be
slightly in front of your shoulders; not directly to the sides and definitely never behind the shoulders.
The elbows should also never droop towards the hips. Keep the arms lifted and stable.
3. Third position
Third position of the arms is used in many combinations. From second position, bend the elbow and
bring one hand in towards the center. The key to a proper third position comes from maintaining a
soft curve of the elbow. Bringing the hand too close to the chest will create too sharp of an angle.
Pretend as if you’re giving a friend a hug from the side; this will provide enough space between the
hand and the breastbone.
4. Fourth position
Fourth position of the arms creates one of the most graceful sights in ballet choreography. The
opposite placement of the arms requires concentrated coordination and can be confusing for
novices. One arm is rounded above the head, while the other is rounded below the navel; in some
instances, it may be raised to the breastbone. In arabesque, the arms are extended straight in front of
the chest while maintaining their respective placement.
5. Fifth position
Fifth position of the arms is the most recognizable pose in ballet, an icon in itself. Children
instinctively raise their arms to this position and prima ballerinas use it to present their beauty and
splendor on stage. Both arms are softly rounded above the head, with finger tips a hand-width apart.
Fingertips should never, ever touch. This position is commonly used in adagio, where balance and
strength are emphasized through movements like développé.

TERMINOLOGIES USED IN BALLET

1) Adagio: Adagio is a series of fluid and focused exercises that are performed slowly in order to
improve dancers’ balance, strength and lines. It also refers to the opening sequence of a two-
person dance that includes one partner lifting the other.
2) Allégro: Allégro means fast, brisk and energetic movements and is associated with jumps.
3) Arabesque: An arabesque is when the dancer stands on one leg with the other leg extended
behind the body. The arms can be held in a variety of positions. Regardless, the goal of the
arabesque is to create as smooth seamless a line as possible with the body, from the shoulders
through the arms and down to the toes of the extended leg.
4) Barre: This is the wooden bar attached to the walls of the classroom, though some barres stand
on their own. The dancer holds onto the barre for support, and a sequence of barre exercises is
part of every ballet class.
5) Battement Tendu: This when the leg and foot are fluidly swept across the floor from one
position to another. Typically, a “battement tendu” starts from first or fifth position, the leg is
extended in the motion, and then it returns to the starting position. The leg should be straight
and fully extended so that the foot only brushes the ground during the movement. BalletHub
noted that many teachers refer to the move as just “tendu.”
6) Changements: When a dancer begins in fifth position, jumps up in place and then switches the
position of their feet while in the air so that they land in fifth position with the opposite foot
now in front.
7) En Pointe: “En pointe” is when you dance on the very tips of your toes. Pointe shoes, typically
made of satin, are used to achieve this. Students begin dancing en pointe only after they have
advanced to a higher skill level, Learntodance.com noted. However, on their way to dancing en
pointe, students will practice moves and positions in demi-pointe, which is when a dancer
stands on the balls of their feet.
8) Pas de Deux: Pas de deux means “a dance for two people,” and is sometimes shortened to
“pas.”
9) Pirouette: A pirouette is a 360 degree spin made on one foot that is en pointe or demi-pointe,
and is frequently begun from fourth position. The move requires strong core alignment and
balance, and, as Balletdancersguide.com stated, “are the mastering ballet move which every
dancer is undoubtedly always trying to figure out how to improve.”

10) Plié: Plié means “bent” or “bending,” and is when one or both knees are bent while legs and
feet remain turned out, and are done in first, second, fourth and fifth positions. There are two
main types of pliés, demi and grand, which George Mason University’s dance
department defined as follows:
i. Demi : This is a small bend of the knees while heels are on the floor which creates a
diamond shape.
ii. Grand : A large bend of the knees during which heels are raised off the ground in a
motion that mimics a “frog stretch.”
“There are two main types of pliés: demi and grand.”
11) Ronde de Jambe: Ronde de jambe means “round of the leg.” It is when the dancer rests on one
leg and makes a circular movement with the other leg. It may be done “à terre,” which means
the circle is made while the foot is touching the ground, or “en l’air,” which means the circle is
made in the air.
12) Sauté: Sauté means “jump,” and is frequently used in combination with other moves to signify
that they should be done with a jump, Learntodance.com explained. The source gave the
example of sauté arabesque, which would mean to jump in the arabesque position.