Which term best describes a long extended line with the back leg?

• A. Releve
• B. Arabesque
• C. Changement
• D. Petits jeté

Answer: (B)

Arabesque is the term that describes a long, extended line with the back leg. In this position the dancer supports on one leg while the other leg reaches straight behind, fully extended and pointed, creating a continuous line from the fingertips to the back foot. The torso stays tall and the hips are square to help lengthen the line. Relevé is about rising onto the toes or balls of the feet, focusing on height and balance rather than the back-leg extension. A changement involves a jump that changes the landing foot, so the defining feature isn’t a long back-leg line. Petits jetés are small leaps emphasizing the jump and foot transfer, not the sustained, extended line of the back leg.