Ballet Term
Cambré
Cambré is a classical ballet term that is defined as “arched.” When ballet dancers are doing Cambré, they are bending their bodies from the waist and stretching backward or sideways. While bending, the dancers head follows the movement of the upper body and arms.
Cambré means “arched” in French, and in ballet it names the bending of the upper body from the waist. When a dancer does a cambré, the spine curves backward or to the side while the lower body stays grounded and turned out. The head follows the movement of the upper body and arms, so the whole line of the torso, neck, and arms travels together as one flowing curve. Cambré appears constantly, most often at the end of barre exercises like pliés and port de bras, and inside larger movements in the center.
How the Body Bends
The bend in a cambré comes from the upper back and waist, not from collapsing at the hips or letting the legs give way. The dancer lifts up out of the waist first and then arches, so the spine lengthens as it curves rather than crunching. Backward, sideways, and forward bends are all possible. In a backward cambré the chest opens and the head releases to follow the arms. In a side cambré the torso curves over toward one side while the hips stay square. Whatever the direction, the head completes the line by following the upper body and arms.
Why It Matters for Line and Strength
Cambré builds flexibility and strength through the spine, which classical dancing relies on for expressive, curving lines. It also trains control, because bending safely means holding the center strong while the back releases. Beautiful cambré makes port de bras look rich and full rather than stiff, and it gives choreography its sweeping, three-dimensional quality. Practiced with care, it stretches the back gradually and teaches the dancer to move the torso as freely and musically as the legs, which is a large part of what makes ballet look graceful.