Fifth Position (arms)

Any time the arms are rounded in an oval, they are in fifth position.*

The fifth position can be:

"low fifth" (or fifth en bas, which translates to "down"),

"middle fifth" (or fifth en avant which translates to "forward")

"high fifth" (or fifth en haut which translates to "high")

*There are different names for the arm positions according to the school/method followed, such as Vaganova, French, Royal Academy of Dance (RAD), Cecchetti, etc.

For example, what is shown above as "Middle Fifth" (Fifth En Avant) in Cecchetti is actually "First" in French School and in RAD.

For the sake of simplicity for beginner students, Ballet Body by Jasmin sticks with naming the arms by the Cecchetti method, in which all oval arms are "Fifth."

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