Joyce Ballet Festival Program C, or The Art of the Arabesque

Joseph Gordon (in blue) & David Hallberg (in maroon) in "Songs of a Wayfarer" Photo: Maria Baranova

  Arabesque: "One of the basic poses in ballet, arabesque takes its name from a form of Moorish ornament. In ballet it is a position of the body, in profile, supported on one leg, which can be straight or demi-pliĆ©, with the other leg extended behind and at right angles to it, and the arms held in various harmonious positions creating the longest possible line from the fingertips to the toes. The shoulders must be held square to the line of direction. The forms of arabesque are varied to infinity...Arabesques are generally used to conclude a phrase of steps, both in

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