Ballet Épaulement.
I've had many students ask me to clarify what I mean when I ask them to use their épaulement (ay-pohl-MAHN) while dancing. Correct é paulement , or placement of the head and shoulders while dancing, can mean the difference between looking like a student and looking like a refined dancer. É paulement requires that the dancer angle his or her head . I often say to "offer one cheek forward, as if presenting it to receive a kiss." Exceptions, of course, are the é cart é positions, where the head is turned either toward the elbow ( devant ) or away from the arms completely ( derriere ). Below is an illustration of the correct é paulement , dependent on the position of the body. The position that is labeled quatrieme (fourth) is also referred to as en face (opposite [the audience]). The sooner you memorize the positions of the head and shoulders, the sooner you can start incorporating them into your danc...