The five Cecchetti arabesques ballet below illustrations.

First Arabesque

The body is held upright from the waist and is supported on a straight leg with the other leg extended and at right angles to the supporting leg. The shoulders are held square to the line of direction with the arms extended, palms down, so that the extended fingertips of the forward arm, which is the one on the same side as the supporting leg, are in a line with the centre of the space between the eyes, and the extended back arm slightly lowered so that the arms are in one straight line. The forward hand should be slightly turned outward.

Second Arabesque

The arms are reversed so that the forward arm is the opposite to the supporting leg. The head is slightly inclined and turned toward the audience.

Third Arabesque

Both arms are extended forward to the side of the supporting leg. The fingertips of the arm farther from the audience are in a line with the centre of the space between the eyes while the arm nearer the audience is in a line with the shoulder.

Fourth Arabesque

The supporting leg is nearer the audience and is in demi-plie. The arms and head are held as in the first arabesque with the arm on the side of the raised leg being forward.

Fifth Arabesque

The arms and head are held as in the third arabesque with the arm
farther from the audience being the higher. The front corner of the room or stage if the supporting leg is the left, or facing the left front corner if the supporting leg is the right. In the illustrations the position is shown sideways for better viewable.

Ballet Images

Third Arabesques Cecchetti Method

Fourth Arabesques Cecchetti Method

Fifth Arabesques Cecchetti Method