The "Arabesque" as a ballet position or better a movement involving the lift of one leg by balancing on the other one, came in use with Madame Camargo. From then it evolved in the next centuries. The term derives from the Persian, indicating a design or a pattern.
We have nowadays various arabesques, numbered from first to fourth with slight changes following the teachers, the schools and the methods.
First up centre Mme Camargo (18th century), below Pierina Legnani ( 19th cent.), below Margot Fonteyn (20th cent.)
Unknown dancer in arabesque of the 21st century!
We have nowadays various arabesques, numbered from first to fourth with slight changes following the teachers, the schools and the methods.
