Mad Monday and Allongée

Mad Monday and Allongée

The French word “allongé” means extended or outstretched.  In ballet the term is most often used in that lovely position arabesque allongée.  It is a normal arabesque, but with the upper body dropped and extended, with the head aligning with the forward arm.

It’s not that the arm drops, however.  Rather, the head comes down to meet the arm.  This is important to prevent everything in the position from drooping.  And, as we know from Ballet Statute #18:  “There is no drooping in ballet.”

So to achieve the beautiful extended arabesque allongée position (as in the White Swan pas de deux), think of bringing the ear to the elbow – not the other way around.  The fingers of the forward arm send energy outward and forward, whle the arabesque leg sends energy outward in the opposite direction, thus creating one of the loveliest poses in ballet.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets:

Secret #18g:

“ In an arabesque allongée think of bringing the ear to the elbow.”

                Link of the Day:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WywAjuOaMac

Quote of the Day:

“If I’ve learned nothing else, it’s that time and practice equal achievement.”

-Andre Agassi

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