What is the correct progression of port de bras in Cecchetti Grade 4 from at the barre to en face in the center?

What is the correct progression of port de bras in Cecchetti Grade 4 from at the barre to en face in the center?

• A. At the barre, port de bras moves from preparatory to 5th, then to seconde or first; in center continue the same shapes with smooth transitions, maintaining shoulder stability.
• B. At barre, port de bras remains static; in center continue same shapes.
• C. Port de bras is never used in Grade 4.
• D. Port de bras moves only after barre, not allowed in center.

Answer: (A)

Port de bras in Cecchetti Grade 4 is about creating a smooth, connected arc from the barre into the center, using the same arm shapes and a stable shoulder line. At the barre you begin in preparatory and move through the positions up to fifth, then through second or first as the sequence requires, shaping the movement with clean lines and deliberate reach. When you transfer to center en face, you carry those exact shapes and continue the same smooth transitions, so the motion feels continuous rather than reset. Keeping the shoulders down and the ribcage lifted supports a stable upper back and allows the arms to travel freely along their intended paths. This approach—linking the barre shapes to the center with consistent, controlled endings—is essential; it wouldn’t make sense to keep the arms static at the barre, skip the center work, or treat port de bras as irrelevant in Grade 4.

Port de bras in Cecchetti Grade 4 is about creating a smooth, connected arc from the barre into the center, using the same arm shapes and a stable shoulder line. At the barre you begin in preparatory and move through the positions up to fifth, then through second or first as the sequence requires, shaping the movement with clean lines and deliberate reach. When you transfer to center en face, you carry those exact shapes and continue the same smooth transitions, so the motion feels continuous rather than reset. Keeping the shoulders down and the ribcage lifted supports a stable upper back and allows the arms to travel freely along their intended paths. This approach—linking the barre shapes to the center with consistent, controlled endings—is essential; it wouldn’t make sense to keep the arms static at the barre, skip the center work, or treat port de bras as irrelevant in Grade 4.