Consistency in arabesque

[Guest Eulalia]

I've noticed that when I devellope to arabesque I'm fully rotated, but when I just lift my leg up, my leg isn't (usually) fully rotated. I can't feel when it is and isn't fully turned out. Is there something I can do to help me with this? Thanks.

[Mel Johnson]

There are two things that will help you here - lifting and opening. You just have to learn which to lift and what to open, and how much of both. First, make sure that you are lifted out of the supporting hip. That will free you up so that you can, second, open the working hip just a trifle more. Don't splay yourself wide open so that you're making an "alabesque", which is something between seconde and arabesque, but just enough to show the leg off to best advantage, no more.

[Victoria Leigh]

And work on your tendu derrière! If you have the correct shape of the leg and foot in tendu, take it to dégagé, then take it higher, maintaining that same shape. As you go higher you will need to move your body weight more forward and open the working hip as described above.

[Guest Eulalia]

Thanks to Ms. Leigh and Mr. Johnson! I think I was opening my hip enough, and tyring to keep it really square. Obviously, not being with the POB I can't have both. Thanks so much!