Rond de Bras

Rond de bras refers to the roundness a dancer keeps in the arms, most often when they are held in a rounded shape such as first or fifth position. Rond means round, and bras means arms, so the term simply points to the soft, curved line of the arms rather than a straight or stiff one. It is not a commonly used term, and you are far more likely to hear port de bras, which describes the movement and carriage of the arms.

In practice, keeping a good rond de bras means the elbows stay gently lifted, the wrists stay soft, and the arms form a smooth curve as if holding a large beach ball. That rounded shape gives classical dancing its graceful, unbroken lines.