This exercise aims to deepen students' understanding of the muscle activation necessary for achieving a higher arabesque with proper alignment. It focuses on engaging the thoracic spine to ensure the vertebrae spiral correctly, maintaining the shoulders and rib cage square to the floor. It also teaches the role of the abdominals in allowing the hip to open while ensuring the supporting leg's rotation towards the fit ball.

Preparation:

Position the student so they roll forward to the centre of their fit ball from fifth position (Alternate option to kneel and place one shin on the fit ball, use the abdominal muscles and adjust the working leg into 5th position), ensuring their hands are pressed onto the mat at the fit ball's width, with relaxed elbows. This starting position encourages proper engagement from the outset. A mat can be rolled up to support the wrists. 

Steps:

1. Guide the students to engage their abdominal muscles, slightly tilting the hip bones forward of the fit ball's edge. Instruct them to press down into the mat activate their abdominals.

2. The students then lift the working leg into an arabesque line, focusing on maintaining the shoulder alignment.

3. Have students hinge their legs into attitude derrière, enveloppé, and return to fifth position.

4. They repeat twice more.

5. Roll back to reset or alternately release the knee to the mat and they change legs to reset.

6. Repeat on the alternate side.

Focus:

Stress the importance of keeping the shoulders and rib cage square to the floor, and the abdominals engaged to support the spine and hip opening.