The Moves

Alessia performs a series of half turns in rapid succession moving forward in a straight line with the feet held close together in first position en pointe.

The feet alternate quickly while travelling and create a full rotation for every two steps taken.

Notice how Alessia gradually brings her arms to first position - this arm movement can be very helpful in maintaining force and gaining the necessary speed for the ‘chain’ of rotations.

Featured dancer: Alessia Petrosino

Standing in fifth position right foot front, arms in third position, Yu jumps up vertically, turns in the air twice with straight legs together and arms in first position. He lands in fifth position demi plié, right foot behind, arms open. Notice how the axis of his rotation is perfectly vertical and Yu lands on the same spot from which he took off from.

Featured dancer: Yu Wakizuka

A vertical jump where straight legs cross and uncross rapidly beating against each other three times on each side through a total of six positions.
Starting in fifth position right foot front, Aaron jumps up high, half opens his legs, the right calf strikes the left one behind, the legs half open again, the right calf strikes the left one in front, the legs again open and Aaron lands in fifth position demi plié, right foot behind.

Notice Aaron’s precise timing and the coordinated scissor motion of his legs.

Featured dancer: Aaron Kok

Preceded by a few steps to give impetus, Bruno jumps from one foot, the legs are brushed high in front of the body one at a time, switching past each other. At the height of the jump his body makes a swift half turn change of direction in the air before landing on the other foot in arabesque. The arms pass through fifth position to first arabesque.

Notice how the powerful throw of the first leg sets the height of the jump and how Bruno’s flexibility allows for a 180 degree scissor-split of his legs before landing.

Featured dancer: Bruno Serraclara

A few steps at the beginning serve as a springboard for the big jump that follows.

The weight of the body is thrown onto the left leg, which moves forward into fourth position demi-plié. The right leg is thrown straight forward at 90 degrees and Stefano leaps touching the ground again on the right foot. The left leg assumes the attitude position behind the body in the air and is maintained on landing. The arms are raised in open fourth position.

Notice how Stefano is able to protract the jump and create the effect of being momentarily suspended mid air.

Featured dancer: Stefano Varalta

Penchés can be performed solo, standing on the flat of the foot or partnered on pointe, as here.

Mayuko balances on one leg in first arabesque, the other leg extended high behind her body. Keeping her back up, her torso inclines forward towards the floor whilst she increases the height of the back leg to 180 degrees.

Notice how Mayuko starts the penché leading with the back leg, maintaining the connection between her leg and body which creates the classical line.

Featured dancer: Mayuko Iwanaga.

Arabesque means to stand on one leg, with the other leg extended behind. A piqué arabesque is where the dancer transfers their weight, pitching forward with a piercing motion onto a stretched leg on pointe, the other leg lifted in the air behind their body. The arm on the same side as the supporting leg is extended in front, the other is held to the side.

Notice how Sena’s core is lifted up and forward in the position. By evenly distributing her legs and upper back she maintains their connection and is able to balance before moving on.

Featured dancer: Sena Kitano.

Preceded by a few steps to give impetus, the dancer throws the right straight leg forward in the air, pushes off from the left leg swinging it up and forward to meet the first leg in the air, before landing on the right leg in an open lunge.

Whilst in the air Toni’s body is at an angle as he rotates one and a half times to the left with both legs extended and held together throughout, his arms in fifth position.

Notice how Toni keeps his weight slightly back on take off and focuses on maintaining control throughout the jump.

Featured dancer: Antoni Cañellas Artigues