Cecchetti Grade 4 Practice Exam

In Cecchetti Grade 4 center work, port de bras shapes are used to create a smooth, continuous line that mirrors the music and supports the movement. The arms should move in curved, gentle arcs with the shoulders relaxed and the rib cage stable, so the upper body stays buoyant and aligned as the legs shift through positions and turns. When the body travels through phrases, the arms should flow in coordination with the feet, tracing lines that connect one shape to the next rather than stopping abruptly. This integration helps maintain balance, line, and musicality, making the whole body read as one elegant unit. Port de bras is not optional; it should be fluid rather than abrupt or stiff, and it must harmonize with the leg work to emphasize shape, direction, and phrasing rather than detracting from them.