Romantic Time
Period
(1820-1900)
Peter Tchaikovsky
 Great
Russian composer living
during Romantic Time Period
 Wrote
3 of the most notable
ballets of all time
The
Nutcracker
Swan
The
Lake
Sleeping Beauty
5 Basic Ballet Positions

When you begin learning ballet, one of the first
things you will learn is the five basic ballet
positions.

They are important because every basic move in
ballet begins and ends in one of the five positions.

Proper body alignment and good posture are
necessary when learning these moves, which are
simply named first position, second position, third
position, fourth position and fifth position.

In first position, the balls of the feet are turned out
completely. The heels touch each other and the
feet face outward, trying to form a straight line.
Second Position Feet

The balls of both feet are turned out completely,
with the heels separated by the length of one
foot. Similar to first position, but the feet are
spread apart.
Third Position Feet

One foot is in front of the other with the of the
front foot touching the middle of the back foot.
Fourth Position Feet

The feet are placed the same as third position,
but one step apart.
Fifth Position Feet

With both feet touching, the toes of each foot
reaches the heel of the other
st
1

Position Arms
This is the main Ballet position of the arms for beginners. Keep
your arms nice and relaxed, and roughly the width of your
face apart. Your hands shouldn't be touching your thighs.
Keep them just an inch or so in front of you.
nd
2

Position Arms
Your arms out to the side should form a smooth line. Don't do
the 'Dead Bird' thing here. Your elbows should be facing the
back of the room. Extend your hand comfortably and keep it
relaxed – no pointing!
3rd Position Arms

This is bringing one arm only in front of you, leaving the other in
second position.
open them.
4th Position Arms

This is one arm raised and one arm in second. The arm that is
raised should be opposite to the foot you have in front. So if
your right foot is in front, you raise your left arm.
5th Position Arms
Finally, raise both arms. As with all these positions, make
sure that it is your arms that are raised, and NOT your
shoulders. Arms should be look smooth with your elbows
and hands softly rounded (and definitely no pointing). You
are executing Ballet positions, not directing traffic!
Let’s Practice!
Plié

Literally "bent". A smooth and continuous bending of the
knees

Demi Plié

Grand Plié
Releve

Literally "lifted". Rising from any position to balance on one or
both feet on at least demi-pointe which is heels off the floor or
higher to full pointe where the dancer is actually balancing on
the top of the toes, supported in pointe shoes. Smoothly done in
some versions, a quick little leap up in other schools.

1st or 5th Position
Arabesque

Arabesque indicates a position of
the body where the dancer stands
on one leg, while the other leg is
extended behind the body, with
both knees straight. The arabesque
position can be performed with the
supporting leg and foot either en
pointe, demi pointe or on a flat foot.
Sauté

Sauté means “to hop” in French. This term is
added to the name of a step to indicate that the
step is performed while jumping.
Piroutte

body spin when dancing: a spin of the body,
especially one performed in ballet on tiptoe or on
the ball of one foot