8 Ballet Positions Of The Body

Question: Croisé Devant - Crossed to the front

Answer: When the dancer’s legs appear crossed from the audience. Working foot pointing directly to the front, while the body is angled to about 1/8 rotation away from the audience (left or right corner)

Question: Croisé derrière - Crossed to the back

Answer: When the dancer’s legs appear crossed from the audience. Working foot pointing directly to the back, while the body is angled to about 1/8 rotation away from the audience (left or right corner)

Question: À la quatrième devant - To the fourth position front

Answer: Torso facing directly front, working foot pointing to the front fourth position

Question: Effacé devant - Shaded to the front

Answer: A dancer’s legs look open, or not crossed, when seen from the front. For example, a tendu ED with the right as the working leg would have the dancers front leg in a tendu position to the front right corner.

Question: Effacé derrière - Shaded to the back

Answer: A dancer’s legs look open, or not crossed, when seen from the front. A dégagé ED, with the left as the working leg, would face the same right corner with their left leg in the air so the legs look open.