8 Directions of the Body

15 July 2013

There are 3 main directions out of which comes the 8 Directions of the Body.
With Right Foot Front (the same can be done with Left Foot Front)

Croise
1. Croise [Crossed]
En Face
2. En face [In front]
Efface
3. Efface [Shaded]

The following are the 8 Directions of the Body in the whole ballet syllabus from which ballet becomes 3-dimensional.

I have incorporated them into a somewhat logical sequence for ease of memorization:
• 3 directions with leg pointing to the front
• 2 pointing to the side
• 3 pointing to the back

With Right Leg (the same can be done with Left Leg)

Croise Devant
Croise Devant
[Crossed Front]
a la Quatrieme Devant
a la Quatrieme Devant
[4th Front]
Efface Devant
Efface Devant
[Shaded Front]
a la Seconde
a la Seconde
[In Second]
Ecarte
Ecarte
[Wide Apart]
Epaule
Epaule
[With Shoulder forward]
a la Quatrieme Derriere
a la Quatrieme Derriere
[4th Back]
Croise Derriere
Croise Derriere
[Crossed Back]