vocab 3

Russian Arabesques
First arabesque: the body is supported on one led with the other lifted at a right or greater angle to the supporting left. The body is inclined forward from the waist with a strongly arched back. The arm on the side of the supporting led is extended forward and the other taken out to the side a little behind the second position.
Second arabesque: the body and legs are the same as in the first arabesque but the arms are reversed. That is, the arm on the side of the supporting leg is taken back far enough to be seen behind the body while the other arm is extended forward. The head is turned toward the audience.
Third arabesque: this arabesque faces diagonally toward the audience. The supporting leg is nearer the audience with the other raised in croisé derrière at right angles to the supporting leg. The body is inclined forward with the arm opposite the supporting leg extended forward on a level with the shoulder and the other arm extended to the side. The head is turned toward the forward arm.
Fourth arabesque: The legs are in the same position as in third arabesque but the arms are reversed and held at shoulder level. The arm on the side of the supporting leg is brought forward and the other arm taken back far enough to be seen behind the back. The body is half turned away from the audience by the strong arching of the back, with the head turned toward the audience.

Cecchetti Arabesques
First arabesque: The body is held upright from the waist and is supported on a straight led with the other leg extended and at right angeles to the supporting leg. The shoulder are held square to the line of direction with the arms extended, palms down, so that the extended fingertips of the forward arm (which is the one on the same side as the supporting leg) are in line with the centre of the space between the eyes, and the extended back arm slightly lowered so that the arms are in one straight line. The forward hand should be slightly turned outward
Second arabesque: the arms are reversed so that the forward arms is the opposite to the supporting left. The head is slightly inclined and turned toward the audience.
Third arabesque: Both arms are extended forward to the side of the supporting leg. The fingertips of the arm farther from the audience are in line with the centre of the space between the eyes while the arm nearer the audience is in line with the shoulder.
Fourth arabesque: The supporting led is nearer the audience and is in demi-plié. The arms and head are held as in first arabesque with the arm on the side of the raised leg being forward.
Fifth arabesque: The arms and head are held as in the third arabesque with the arm farther from the audience being the higher. The supporting leg is the leg nearer the audience and is in demi-plié.

*the fourth and fifth arabesques are usually taken facing the right front corner of the room or stage if the supporting leg is the left, or facing the left front corner if the supporting left is the right.*

Demi Pointe- on the half points, dancer is to stand high on the falls of the feet under part of the toes.

Relevé- raised, raising the body on the points or the demi pointes. The toes do not move from the spot at which the relevé began.

Sous sus- under-over, a term of the cecchetti method. Sous sus is a relevé in fifth position performed sur place or trailed forward, backward or to the side. The dancer springs on the points or demi-pointes, drawing the feet and legs tightly together.

Coupé - cut/cutting. A small intermediary step done as a preparation for some other step. It takes its name from the fact that one foot cuts the other away and takes its place.

Cou de pied- The working foot is placed on the part of the leg between the base of the calf and the beginning of the ankle.