手臂的位置（positions of the arms）。虽然各教学法中脚位是统一的，手位却不统一，每一流派都有自己的手位体系。Cecchetti 教学法有五种基本手位，外加第四位的一种派生形式与第五位的两种派生形式；法国学派设有一个预备位和五种基本手位，其中部分手位也被某些俄罗斯学派采用；俄罗斯学派（Vaganova 教学法）则有一个预备位和三种基本手位。
【Cecchetti 教学法】
第一位：两臂弯曲、垂于身体两侧，指尖恰好触及大腿。
第二位：两臂向两侧打开成一道舒展的弧线，肘部略低于肩，手腕略低于肘，掌心朝向观众。此外还有一种 demi-seconde 手位：两臂保持在第一位与第二位之间的中途高度向两侧打开，掌心如第一位那样向内。此手位用于 allégro 中的舞步，如 temps de cuisse、contretemps 和 glissade——做这些动作时，手臂自第五位 en bas 打开至 demi-seconde 手位，再收拢回第五位 en bas。
第三位：一臂如第五位 en bas 那样弯曲于体前，另一臂如 demi-seconde 手位那样略圆地向侧旁打开。
第四位：第四手位有两种，即第四位 en avant 与第四位 en haut。第四位 en avant：一臂打开至第二位，另一臂弯曲着举于体前、正对下肋处，构成第五位 en avant 的一半。第四位 en haut：一臂打开至第二位，另一臂举过头顶，构成第五位 en haut 的一半。当两臂处于 arabesque 姿势时，前伸的手臂被认为伸展于“第四位前”（fourth position front），后伸的手臂则被认为伸展于“第四位后”（fourth position back）。
第五位：凡两臂连成环形，即被认为处于第五位。第五手位共有三种：(1) 第五位 en bas（低位），两臂成环、搁于大腿之上；(2) 第五位 en avant（向前），两臂成环、举于体前；(3) 第五位 en haut（高位），两臂成环、举于头顶上方。第五位 en bas：两臂成环，指尖相距数英寸，手背的边缘触及大腿。第五位 en avant：两臂于体前正对下肋处成环，掌心朝向身体。第五位 en haut：两臂在头顶前上方成环，使指尖恰好落在视线范围的下缘之内。第五位 en avant 常被通俗地称为“门”（gate 或 door），因为手臂自低位过渡到高位时通常要经由这一手位；自高位落到低位时，手臂则一般沿体侧线放下。
【法国学派】
预备位，或 bras au repos：两臂略圆、垂于体侧，指尖恰好触及大腿。相当于 Cecchetti 教学法的第一位。
第一位：两臂于体前、与肋骨分叉处（肋弓）同高成环。相当于 Cecchetti 教学法的第五位 en avant。
第二位：两臂如 Cecchetti 教学法的第二位那样向两侧打开。
第三位：一臂弯举过头顶，另一臂向侧旁打开。亦称“bras en attitude”。相当于 Cecchetti 教学法的第四位 en haut。
第四位：一臂弯举过头顶，另一臂弯曲于体前、与肋骨分叉处（肋弓）同高。
第五位：两臂弯举过头顶，如 Cecchetti 教学法的第五位 en haut。此位亦称“bras en couronne”。
【俄罗斯学派（Vaganova 教学法）】
预备位：两臂弯曲、低垂于体前。相当于 Cecchetti 教学法的第五位 en bas。
第一位：两臂于体前成环，与胃部同高。相当于 Cecchetti 教学法的第五位 en avant。
第二位：两臂向两侧张开，肘部略圆，自肘至腕的一段手臂与肘同高。
第三位：两臂成环、举过头顶。相当于 Cecchetti 教学法的第五位 en haut。
Positions of the arms. Although the positions of the feet are standard in all methods, the positions of the arms are not, each method having its own set of arm positions. The Cecchetti method has five standard positions with a derivative of the fourth position and two derivatives of the fifth position. The French School has a preparatory position and five standard positions. These positions are used in some Russian schools. The Russian School (Vaganova) has a preparatory position and three standard positions of the arms. CECCHETTI METHOD. First position: The arms are curved and held at the sides with the fingertips just touching the thighs. Second position: The arms are held out to the sides in a sweeping line so that the elbow is slightly lower than the shoulder and the wrist slightly lower than the elbow. The palms of the hands face the audience. There is also a demi-seconde position of the arms. This is a position in which the arms are held out to the sides in a position halfway between the first position and the second position. The palms of the hands are turned inward as in the first position. This position is used in steps of allégro, such as temps de cuisse, contretemps and glissade, in which the arms open from the fifth position en bas to the demi-seconde position and close again in the fifth position en bas. Third position: The arms are held with one arm curved in front of the body as in the fifth position en bas and the other arm slightly rounded and opened to the side as in the demi-seconde position. Fourth position: There are two fourth positions of the arms, the fourth position en avant and the fourth position en haut. Fourth position en avant: One arm is opened to the second position and the other is rounded and raised in front of the body opposite the lower ribs, forming half of the fifth position en avant. Fourth position en haut: One arm is opened to the second position while the other is raised above the head, forming half of the fifth position en haut. When the arms are en arabesque, the forward arm is said to be extended in the fourth position front and the backward arm is said to be extended in the fourth position back. Fifth position: Whenever the arms form a circle they are said to be in the fifth position. There are three fifth positions of the arms: (1) Fifth position en bas (or low), in which the rounded arms rest on the thighs. (2) Fifth position en avant (or forward), in which the rounded arms are raised in front of the body. (3) Fifth position en haut (or high), in which the rounded arms are raised above the head. Fifth position en bas: The arms form a circle, with the fingertips a few inches apart and the back edge of the hands touching the thighs. Fifth position en avant: The arms form a circle in front of the body opposite the lower ribs with the palms of the hands facing the body. Fifth position en haut: The arms form a circle above and in front of the head so that the fingertips are just within the line of vision. The fifth position en avant is familiarly termed the gate or door, because in passing from a low position to a high one the arms generally pass through this position. In passing from a high position to a low one the arms are generally lowered in a line with the sides. FRENCH SCHOOL. Preparatory position, or bras au repos: The arms are slightly rounded and held at the sides with the fingertips just touching the thighs. Corresponds to Cecchetti first position. First position: The arms form a circle in front of the body in line with the fork of the ribs. Corresponds to Cecchetti fifth position en avant. Second position: The arms are held out to the sides as in the Cecchetti second position. Third position: One arm is curved above the head while the other is held out to the side. Also termed “bras en attitude.” Corresponds to the Cecchetti fourth position en haut. Fourth position: One arm is curved above the head while the other is curved in front of the body in line with the fork of the ribs. Fifth position: Both arms are curved above the head as in the Cecchetti fifth position en haut. This position is also termed “bras en couronne.” RUSSIAN SCHOOL (VAGANOVA). Preparatory position: Arms curved and held low in front of the body. Corresponds to the Cecchetti fifth position en bas. First position: Arms form a circle in front of the body on a level with the stomach. Corresponds to the Cecchetti fifth position en avant. Second position: Arms drawn to the sides, elbows slightly rounded, with the lower part of the arm from the elbow to the wrist on a level with the elbow. Third position: Arms circled above the head. Corresponds to the Cecchetti fifth position en haut.