Technical Tuesday Arabesque
The word “arabesque” has several different meanings,
including the one every dancer knows: “a pose in ballet in which the dancer stands
on one leg with one arm extended in front and the other leg and arm extended
behind.” But how did this position
come to be called arabesque? If a dancer extends her leg devant, this position doesn’t
have a name other than croisé or effacé devant . A leg extension derriere is
also referred to as croisé or efface
derriere but most often is called arabesque. Why is there no corresponding “extra”
name for an extension devant? And how and when did the term arabesque become
used in ballet?
Other definitions include one in the fine arts area: “a sinuous, spiraling, undulating, or
serpentine line or linear motif”; and one in the musical area: “a short, fanciful musical piece,
typically for piano”. The origin of the word itself comes from the French, derived
from the Italian arabesco in the
early 1600s, which means an ornament in
the Islamic style, literally Arabian; and the ABT online dictionary (http://www.abt.org/education/dictionary/terms/arabesque.html
) and the Technical Manual and Dictionary
of Classical Ballet by Gail Grant state that arabesque takes its name from
a form of Moorish ornament.
So. It appears that the position called arabesque was so
beautiful and reminiscent of a lovely Moorish ornament that it earned its own
specific name.
From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets:
Ballet Secret #18s:
“The word “arabesque” has several different meanings.”
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“Beauty of whatever kind, in its supreme
development, invariably excites the sensitive soul to tears.”
― Edgar Allan Poe
― Edgar Allan Poe
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Thank you Maria! I'm always happy to hear that my posts have helped.
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