Arm positions

Question 1

Grouping of fingers

Answer 1

In all positions of the arms except 1st, the fingers are lightly grouped and the thumb is in contact with the first joint of the middle finger

Question 2

First position

Answer 2

Both hands rest on the hips with the backs of the hands to the front
the knuckles face the body with the wrists straight, and the elbows pointing directly out to the side

Question 3

Second position

Answer 3

one arm is place as in 1st position, the other is raised at the side, with the arm and wrist slightly curved, the hand is slightly above an forward from the headline and the palm is turned inwards
The raised arm is always on the side opposite to the working leg EXCEPT in a propelled pivot-turn

Question 4

Third position

Answer 4

both arms are placed as the raised arm explained in 2nd position and the palms are facing inwards towards each other

Question 5

Fourth position

Answer 5

a closer and higher form of third position with the hands almost touching

Question 6

Fifth position

Answer 6

the arms are gently curved down in front of the body with the hands quite close to each other and the little fingers almost touching the kilt

Question 7

raising or lowering the arms

Answer 7

when raising or lowering the arms there should be minimum displacement of the elbows and no part of the arm or hands should come in front of the dancers face. there are exceptions

Question 8

Exceptions to covering face when raising/lowering arms

Answer 8

4th bar of the intro to the Seann truibhas when arms are raised from 5th to 4th
1st and 2nd Seann truibhas steps when the arms are circled from 1st or 5th position