Port de Bras

Port de Bras

The dancer must breathe life into each arm action, responding to an inner impulse to move. The use of the head and eye line is also crucial to ports de bras. In general, the head is led by the eyes, and the eyes lead the movement of the arms. The arms move fluidly from position to position without tension, with the postural muscles being reengaged on each transition. This firm control of the waist allows the chest and head to remain freely balanced over the hips so as not to interfere with the dancer’s natural breathing pattern.

Correct breathing patterns enhance the quality and give expression to movement. Although breathing naturally, the dancer learns to punctuate key moments with intentional changes in breath rhythm ; a suspended inhalation accentuates the final stretch of an arm, and a prolonged exhalation complements the downward flow of the arms to bras bas. Breathing gives life to the whole movement.

Source : THE FOUNDATIONS OF CLASSICAL BALLET TECHNIQUE ROYAL ACADEMY OF DANCE