How do port de bras positions help create balance in classical ballet?

In classical ballet, the term port de bras—literally meaning "carriage of the arms"—refers to the technique and practice of arm movements. While these movements are primarily intended to provide a graceful and harmonious accent to the dancer's leg work, they are also essential for achieving the perfect balance of the figure.123

By coordinating the arms with the fundamental positions of the feet and the body, a dancer creates a unified, balanced form. The overall grace and stability of these movements are further enhanced by the dancer's épaulement, or the specific positioning of the head and shoulders. When integrated with the body's center of gravity, these arm positions help stabilize the dancer, particularly during complex poses such as the arabesque or attitude, where the weight of the body is often supported on a single leg.31