Ballet has a rich vocabulary of named poses and movements, almost all derived from French. If you have ever sat watching a ballet class or exam and wondered what the teacher was asking for, this guide is for you. Here are the most important classical ballet poses and their names, with a plain-English description of each.
The Five Positions — The Foundation of Everything
All of classical ballet starts from five positions of the feet (and corresponding arm positions). They are the grammar that every other step is built upon.
- First position — heels together, feet turned out to form a straight line.
- Second position — feet turned out with a gap of roughly one foot-length between the heels.
- Third position — one foot in front of the other, heel of the front foot at the middle of the back foot.
- Fourth position — one foot in front of the other with a gap between them, both turned out.
- Fifth position — one foot directly in front of the other, heel of the front touching the toe of the back foot.
Arabesque
One of the most iconic ballet poses. The dancer balances on one leg while extending the other leg straight behind them at hip height or above. The arms and back form a long, continuous line from fingertip to pointed toe. There are four main arabesque positions in the RAD syllabus, each with different arm placements.
Attitude
Similar to arabesque but with the raised leg bent at the knee rather than straight. The knee points upward and outward. Attitude can be performed to the back (attitude derrière) or the front (attitude devant). It was inspired by the famous statue of Mercury by Giovanni Bologna.
Arabesque Penchée
An advanced pose where the dancer tilts the whole torso forward while raising the back leg higher than 90 degrees — sometimes parallel to the ceiling. The word penchée means “tilted” or “leaning.”
Pas de Deux Lifts — Named Poses in Flight
In partnered ballet, many famous poses are performed in the air: the fish dive (poisson), the press lift into arabesque, and the overhead lifts seen in Swan Lake and The Sleeping Beauty. These require years of training and are beyond the scope of classroom ballet, but you will recognise them at any ballet performance.
Retiré (Passé)
The working foot is drawn up to the knee of the supporting leg, toes pointed. Used as the position for pirouettes and as a transition step between many others. Retiré means “withdrawn.” In the RAD syllabus this position is often called passé at the lower grades.
Développé
A controlled unfolding of the leg from retiré to a fully extended position in the air — to the front, side or back. The movement is slow and requires significant strength and flexibility. Développé means “developed” or “unfolded.”
Grand Battement
A large, sweeping kick of the working leg from fifth position to full height — front, side or back — while the supporting leg stays straight. Grand battement means “large beating.” It is used in warm-up exercises to develop flexibility and hip strength.
Port de Bras
Literally “carriage of the arms.” Port de bras refers to specific arm movements and sequences that accompany steps. Good port de bras is what gives ballet dancing its expressiveness and flow. In the RAD syllabus, exercises specifically named port de bras appear from the early grades.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are ballet poses named in French?
Ballet developed as a formal art form at the French royal court in the 17th century, and Louis XIV established the first professional ballet academy in Paris in 1661. The French terminology was codified at that time and has been retained ever since as an international standard — a dancer trained in Australia uses the same vocabulary as one trained in Russia or Brazil.
What is the difference between arabesque and attitude?
In an arabesque, the raised leg is straight and extended behind the body. In an attitude, the raised leg is bent at the knee with the lower leg angled upward. Both are performed on one supporting leg and can be held as a balance or used as passing positions in a combination.
What is the most important pose for beginners to learn?
The five positions of the feet are the essential starting point — every ballet step begins and ends in one of the five positions. Once those are understood, arabesque and retiré are the next most important named poses to recognise, as they appear in virtually every class from Pre-Primary onwards.
How many ballet poses are there?
There is no fixed number, as ballet vocabulary is vast and includes hundreds of named steps, transitions and poses. However, the core vocabulary that appears in the RAD syllabus from Pre-Primary to Grade 8 covers around 80 to 100 named elements — most of which build on a foundation of the five positions and a handful of key poses like arabesque, attitude and retiré.