Ballet Positions of the Body

Eight directions of the body and Épaulement~ Épaulement is shouldering or the placing of the shoulders. As the working leg goes through the positions, the body moves from the waist upward, bringing one shoulder forward and the other back with the head turned or inclined. So, use the list below while watching both the legs and the épaulement of Royal Opera House Ballet First Artist, Romany Pajdak, as she starts with the right leg and then repeats the eight positions of the body with her left leg.. Croisé devant À la quatrième (1) devant Écarté (2) devant Effacé devant À la seconde Efface (3) derrière À la quatrième derrière Croisé (4) derrière (Then, in class to get to the left leg, we draw in to coupé then pas de bourrée en tournant to the other side.) (1) Quatrième is like Premier or première~ first; Deuxième~second; Troisième~ third; Quatrième~ fourth; and Cinquième~ fifth. (2) Écarté means separated or thrown wide apart. The dancer faces either one of the two front corners (one or two). The downstage leg is pointed in the second à terre or en l'air. The torso is held perpendicular and arms are en attitude with the raised arm on the same side as the extended leg. (3) Efacé (or effacée) means shaded so that when you stand at an oblique angle to the audience part your body is taken back and slightly hidden from view. Effacé can be devant or derrière and either à terre or en l'air. (4) Not to be confused with en croix (in the shape of a cross when we go from fourth to the front, second to the side, fourth to the back, or vice versa, as in battements tendus en croix)