Ballet 2022

One of eight directions of the body, in which the foot is placed in second position and the arms are outstretched to second position. (ah la suh-GAWND)

A la seconde

Literally the Earth. The leg is in contact with the floor.

A Terre

One of the basic poses in ballet. It is a position of the body, in profile, supported on one leg, with the other leg extended behind and at right angles to it, and the arms held in various harmonious positions creating the longest possible line along the body.

Arabesque

A pose on one leg with the other lifted in back, the knee bent at an angle of ninety degrees and well turned out so that the knee is higher than the foot. The arm on the side of the raised leg is held over the held in a curved position while the other arm is extended to the side (ah-tee-TEWD)

Attitude

A French word meaning at ease or leisure. In dancing, its main meaning is series of exercises following the center practice, consisting of a succession of slow and graceful movements. (ah-DAHZ-EO)

Adagio

Fast or quick. Center floor allegro variations incorporate small and large jumps.

Allegro

Extended, outstretched. As for example, in arabesque allongé.

Allonge´

Assembled or joined together. A step in which the working foot slides well along the ground before being swept into the air. As the foot goes into the air the dancer pushes off the floor with the supporting leg, extending the toes. (ah-sahm-BLAY)

Assemble´

Forward. Used to indicate that a given step is executed moving toward the audience.

En Avant

Rocking step. The weight is shifted from one foot to the other. (ba-lahn-SAY) (entournant)

Balance´

Literally bounce. The springy quality of a jump.

Ballon

The railing that a dancer uses for balance in the beginning exercises of a ballet class.

Barre

A beating action of the extended or bent leg. (bat-MAHN)

Battement

Stretched. As, for example, in battement tendue. (tahn- DEW)

Tendu

Arm (brah)

Bras

Bending the body to the side.

Cambre´

Chains, links. A series of rapid turns on the pointes or demi- pointes done in a straight line or in a circle (sheh-NAY)

Chaine´

Change of feet. Changements are springing steps in the fifth position, the dancer changing feet in the air and alighting in the fifth position with the opposite foot in front. (shahnzh-MAHN)

Changement

Chased. A step in which one foot literally chases the other out of its position. (sha-Say)

Chasse´

Cut, cutting. A step is said to be coupe when shortened. (koo-pay)

Coupe´

Body. (kawr)

Corps

The ensemble of dancers in a ballet company. The lowest rank.

Corps de ballet

Crossed. The crossing of the legs with the body placed at an oblique angle to the audience. (krwah-ZAY)

Croise´

Bell. The leg swings through first like the movement of a bell.

en Cloche

In a cross. Barre exercises are often done in this pattern.

en Croix

Running. The step is done running.

en Couru

Inward. The leg moves in a circular direction, counter-clockwise from back to front. (ahn duh-DAHN)

en Dedans

Outward. The leg moves in a circular direction, clockwise. As for example, in rond de jambe en dehors. (ahn duh-AWR)

en Dehors

Disengaged. A dégagé is the pointing of the foot in an open position with a fully arched instep. (day-ga-ZHAY)

Degage´

Behind, back. This term may refer to a movement, step or placing of a limb in back of the body. (deh-RYEHR)

Derriere

In front. (din-VAHN)

Devant

Developed. A developpe is a movement in which the working leg is drawn up and slowly extended to an open position en l'air and held there with perfect control. (davy-law-PAY)

Developpe´

Separated, thrown wide apart. In this position the dancer faces either front corner. The leg nearer the audience is pointed in the second position. The arms are held with the raised arm being on the same side as the extended leg. The head is raised slightly and turned toward the raised arm so that the eyes look into the palm of the hand. (ay-kar-TAY)

Ecarte´

Escaping or slipping movement. An echappe is a level opening of both feet from a closed to an open position. (ay-sha-PAY)

Echappe´

Shaded. The dancer stands at an oblique angle to the audience so that a part of the body is taken back and almost hidden from view. (eh-fa- SAY)

Efface´

On the diagonal.

En diagonal

Facing front.

En Face

In the air. (ahn lehr)

En L'air

Turning. The step is done turning.

En Tournant

Shouldering. Using the head and shoulders.

Epaulement

Giving way. A fleeting movement done on one count. (fah-YEE)

Failli

Closed position. As in sissone ferme´.

Ferme´

Melting- A term used to describe a lowering of the body made by bending the knee of the supporting leg. (fawn-DEW)

Fondu

Literally, struck beating. From the sur la cou-de-pied position (working foot cupped around the ankle of the supporting foot), thrust the working foot forcefully outward to an extended position, a few inches above the floor, devant (in front), à la seconde (to the second position) or derriere (in back), with the ball of the foot brushing on the floor as it moves outward.

Frappe´

Leg (zhahm)

Jambe

Thrown. A jump from one foot to the other in which the working leg is brushed into the air and appears to be thrown. (zhuhTAY)

Jete´

(tour jete´) The body is flung over in mid-air to face the originating position on the land.

Jete´ entrelace´

Glide. A traveling step executed by gliding the working foot from the fifth position in the required direction, the other foot closing to it. (glee- SAD)

Glissade

Large beating. An exercise in which the working leg is raised from the hip into the air and brought down again, the accent being on the downward movement, both knees straight. (grahn bat-MAHN)

Grand Battement

Large leap.

Grand jete´

Step. The movement involves a transfer of weight. (pah)

Pas

Basque step. (pah duh bask)

Pas de basque

Horse's step. (pah duh shuh-VAL)

Pas de cheval

Dance for two.

Pas de deux

Bourrée step done on the pointe or demi-pointe. (pah duh boo RAY)

Pas de bouree´

Cat's-step.The step is done with a jump from fifth to fifth, with one foot landing immediately after the other. (pah duh shah)

Pas de chat

Passed. This is an auxiliary movement in which the foot of the working leg passes the knee of the supporting leg from one position to another. (pa-SAY)

Passe´

Leaning, inclining. As, for example, in arabesque penchee, a high arabesque in whichthe body leans forward, the head being low and the foot of the raised leg the highest point. (pawn-SHAY)

Penche´

Small beating. In sur le cou de pied position the foot beats front and back of the ankle.

Petit battement

Pricked, pricking. Executed by stepping directly on the pointe of the working foot in any desired direction with the other foot raised in the air. (pee- KAY)

Pique´

Whirl or spin. A complete turn of the body on one foot either on the pointe or demi-pointe, the motive power being obtained from a combination of plie and arm movement. There is a great variety of pirouettes. (peer-WET)

Pirouette

Bent, bending. A bending of the knees or knee to render the joints soft and pliable, and the muscles and tendons flexible and elastic. (plee-AY)

Plie´

Carriage of the arms. (por dih BRAH)

Port de bras

In a walk. Indicates that the dancer turns slowly on one foot by a series of slight movements of the heel to the required side while maintaining a definite pose. (ahn prawm-NAD)

Promenade

Raised. A raising of the body on the pointes or demi-pointes, which may be done in many different positions. (rih-leh-VAY)

Releve´

Reverence, curtsey. (ray-vay-RAHNSS)

Reverence

Round of the leg; that is, a circular movement of the leg. Ronds de jambe is used as an exercise at the barre, in the center and in the adage, and is done on the floor (àterre) or in the air (en l'air). (rawn duh zhahnb)

Rond de jambe

Jump, jumping. (so-TAY)

Saute´

Sissonne is named for the originator of the step. The most commond form of sissonne is the springing off from two feet and landing on one foot, then usually closing the second foot. (see-SAWN)

Sissonne

sudden spring or bound. (soo-bruh-SOH)

Soubresaut

Basque jump. A traveling step in which the dancer turns in the air with one foot drawn up to the knee of the other leg. ( soh duh bask)

Saut de basque

Under-over. Sous-sus is a releve in the fifth position. The dancer springs onto the pointes, drawing the legs and feet tightly together with the heels forced forward so that they give the impression of one foot. (soo-SEW)

Sous-sus

Sustained in turning. (soot-NEW ahn toor NAHN)

Soutenu

This is a term given to the movement of the head in turning. The dancer chooses a spot in front and as the turn is made away from the spot, the head is the last to leave and the first to arrive as the body completes that turn. This snap of the head gives the impression that the face is always turned forward and prevents the dancer from becoming dizzy.

Spotting

On the neck of the foot. The foot is wrapped at base of the ankle.

Sur le Cou-de-pied

Falling down. Used to indicate that the body falls forward or backward onto the working leg in a demi-plie. (tohm-BAY)

Tombe´

The ability of the dancer to turn his feet and legs out from the hip joints to a 90-degree position. This position gives the dancer freedom of movement in every direction.

Turn Out