What is a safe approach to correcting a dancer who leans forward during port de bras?

• A. Cue to lift the rib cage, lengthen the spine, and maintain turnout and shoulder relaxation.
• B. Tell them to lean further forward.
• C. Force the shoulders to rise.
• D. Ignore the issue and continue.

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is keeping the torso tall and relaxed while the arms move, so the port de bras reads as buoyant and controlled rather than collapsed or tipped forward. Leaning forward often comes from not having enough up-and-down length in the spine or from letting the rib cage drop, which shifts the weight onto the front of the body and makes the arms feel heavy or wilted.

Cueing the dancer to lift the rib cage and lengthen the spine creates a vertical, stable frame. Lifting the rib cage up helps align the chest with the pelvis and prevents the upper body from tipping forward. Lengthening the spine gives the torso more space to move without collapsing, so the arms can travel smoothly from one position to another without compensating with a forward lean. Keeping turnout engaged maintains a stable, balanced pelvis and supports the upright line, while shoulder relaxation ensures the arms stay light and the rib cage doesn’t tighten and push the torso forward. Gentle breath and core support often accompany these cues, helping the dancer hold the shape without gripping.

Telling someone to lean further forward would worsen the alignment and make the port de bras look rushed or tense. Forcing the shoulders to rise creates unnecessary tension and disrupts the even, soft line. Ignoring the issue lets bad habit persist and can lead to strain. So the best approach is a cue that lifts and lengthens the spine while preserving turnout and relaxed shoulders, giving the arms a clean, controlled movement.