This is an essential exercise in ballet, aimed at enhancing the student's ability to perform an arabesque with proper alignment and control. It focuses on building the strength and flexibility needed for this fundamental pose. An extra mat is used to make this exercise more accessible for students of all ages.

Preparation: Position a rolled mat for the feet and have an additional mat ready if students struggle to reach the floor comfortably. Begin in either fifth or third position with the right leg back.

Steps:

1. Instruct students to demi plié, roll onto the fit ball, and place their hands under their shoulders. Their elbows should be soft and their neck relaxed.

2. Next, they raise the right leg into arabesque, lengthening the body forward. Remind them to exhale as the leg is raised to a full extension.

3. Then, students lower the leg back to fifth position and hinge the working leg into an attitude. Then they extend it back and return to fifth position.

4. Progress to shifting weight forward, raising legs, and performing a changement battu (royale), returning smoothly to the mat.5. Repeat on the other side.

Focus: Stress the importance of keeping the supporting leg wrapped towards the fit ball. Remind students to let their hips open slightly when the leg reaches 90 degrees in arabesque.