Which term describes a pose with the knee bent and thigh turned out, commonly seen in classical ballet?

• A. Arabesque
• B. Piqué
• C. Fouette
• D. Attitude

Answer: (D)

In ballet, a pose with the knee bent and the thigh turned out is called an Attitude. The key feature is the turnout from the hip and the bent knee, with the foot pointed and the leg held in a lifted, graceful line. The raised leg can be in front, to the side, or behind the body, depending on the variation, and the supporting leg stays strong and straight to balance the pose.

This distinguishes it from an Arabesque, where the working leg is extended straight and held behind the body; from Piqué, which describes a movement or transfer onto the foot rather than a sustained bent-knee pose; and from Fouette, which is a rapid turning/whipping action of the leg rather than a static bent-knee position.