Which is the first arabesque?

• A. Première arabesque
• B. Seconde arabesque
• C. Troisième arabesque
• D. Quatrième arabesque

Answer: (A)

In ballet, arabesques are named in order to show which leg is working and how the arms are arranged to create a long, clean line. The first arabesque is the basic pose where the working leg extends straight behind the dancer, the supporting leg stays straight, and the arms form a long, balanced line with one arm reaching forward and the other extended back. The name première arabesque literally means “first arabesque,” marking it as the starting position in the series. The other arabesques shift the working leg to the front or adjust the arm positions, making them distinct from the first. So the first arabesque is the standard basic pose with the leg behind and the corresponding arm line.