In formal dance styles, a variety of basic and challenging dance positions are required. Not only in ballet, but also in popular dance styles like ballroom dancing, body and foot positions are required. First position through fifth position are the five dance positions in ballet. There are several types of dance positions in ballroom dancing, including the basic position, closed position, promenade position, cuddle position, and two parallel foot positions. Dance positions are best practiced in front of a mirror, such as those found in dance studios.
Five basic positions in ballet must be mastered. Holding the heels together and pointing the feet out in opposite, turned-out directions is the first position. The arms should be relaxed and placed just below the stomach area. Hands and fingers should be relaxed and held as if they were holding an invisible object. Depending on how the dancer’s body is built, the arms can also be held in front at a 90-degree angle.
The second position is a spin-off from the first. The feet should be at shoulder width and slid apart from one another. The arms are outstretched to the sides, and the hands are in the position of holding a large, unseen object. Allow the dancer’s arms to curve and slope downward slightly.
The third and fourth dance positions are a little more difficult. The dancer in third position moves his or her right arm in front of him or her as if holding an invisible object, but his or her left arm remains in second position. One foot is positioned forward, with the heel in front of the back foot’s arch. By moving one leg forward and placing the forward leg and foot directly in front of the back leg and foot, the fourth position is a variation of the first. One arm is raised above the head while the other remains in the second position.
Fifth position is difficult to master and can lead to injury if not properly practiced. The foot in fourth position is moved back so that the heel of the foot is touching the toes from behind. Some professional ballet dancers are able to bring the front foot’s toes into contact with the back foot’s heel. A dancer must practice for years to be able to do this without causing serious injury to his or her ankles or knees.
Other basic and challenging dance positions in ballroom dancing must be mastered. Before starting, place the follower’s left hand on the leader’s right arm, which is the most basic ballroom dancing position. The follower then holds the leader’s free hand just above each dancer’s eye level. While standing 6 inches (15 cm) apart, the held hands should be at a 90-degree angle.
The most common type of ballroom dance position is the closed position, which is nearly identical to the basic position. The only difference is that the leader places his or her hand on the left shoulder blade of the follower, while the follower lightly rests his or her left arm on the leader’s right arm. Each dancer’s feet are directly across from his or her partner’s.
The promenade position, in which dancers stand sideways in an open position with one set of hands, is another position in ballroom dancing. The leader places his or her right hand on the left side of the follower. Then he or she quickly grabs the partner’s right hand and pulls him or her in close.
The left and right parallel foot positions are two variations of the closed position. The feet of the follower are to the left or right of the leader’s feet, or vice versa, in these dance positions. However, each partner’s shoulders must be parallel, which makes this a little more difficult.
The cuddle position is for more romantic ballroom dancers. The female partner is traditionally positioned to her partner’s right, with both of them facing the same direction. Right-to-right and left-to-left, he has his arm around her waist, and the partners join hands. The Lindy Cuddle is a variation with a male partner facing directly behind the female partner’s back. They also hold hands left-to-left and right-to-right.