 [click logo to view] Katherine Linden demonstrating a port de bras. (1362k) |
Port de bras [pawr duh brah] |
| Carriage of the arms. The term
port de bras has two meanings:
(1) A movement or series of
movements made by passing
the arm or arms through various
positions. The passage of
the arms from one position
to another constitutes a port
de bras. (2) A term for a
group of exercises designed
to make the arms move gracefully
and harmoniously. In the Cecchetti
method there are eight
set exercises on port de bras. In
the execution of port de bras
the arms should move from
the shoulder and not from
the elbow and the movement
should be smooth and flowing.
The arms should be softly
rounded so that the points
of the elbows are imperceptible
and the hands must be simple,
graceful and never flowery.
The body and head should come
into play and a suggestion
of épaulement
should be used. In raising
the arms from one position
to another the arms must pass
through a position known in
dancing as the gateway.
This position corresponds
to the fifth position en avant,
Cecchetti method, or the
first position, French and
Russian Schools. In passing
from a high position to a
low one, the arms are generally
lowered in a line with the
sides. Exercises on port de
bras can be varied to infinity
by combining their basic elements
according to the taste of
the professor and the needs
of the pupil. |