Ballet

Front 1

Arabesque

Back 1

a position of body, in profile, supported on one leg, with the other leg extended behind it at a right angle to it. Arms held at various positions to make the longest line. 5 arm positions total for arabesque.

Front 2

Assemblé

Back 2

assembled or jointed together. A step in which the working foot slides along the ground before being swept not the air. As the foot goes into the air the dancer pushes off the floor with supporting leg, extending the toes. Both legs come down simultaneously in fifth position

Front 3

Attitude

Back 3

A position on one leg with the other lifted in the back, the knee bent at the angle of 90 degrees well turned out so the knee is higher than the foot. Arm on the side of the raised leg is held over the head in a curved position while the other is extended to the side

Front 4

Balancé

Back 4

An alternation of balance shifting weight from one foot to the other. Balance may be done crossing the foot in either front or back. Fifth position right foot front. Demi-Plie, dégagé the right foot to the second position and jump onto it lightly in demi-plie.crossing the left foot behind the right ankle including the head and body to the right. Step on the Left demi-pointe behind the right foot, slightly lifting the right foot off of the ground , then fall on the right foot again in demi-plie with the left foot raised and pointed at the ankle behind.

Front 5

Ballet

Back 5

A theatrical work of entertainment in which a choreographer has expressed his ideas in a group and solo dancing to a musical accompaniment with appropriate costumes,lighting, and scenery

Front 6

Battement Battu

Back 6

Battement beaten, the right foot is placed in sur le the right toe beats against the left ankle with a series of quick little taps using only the lower part of the leg from the knee down

Front 7

Grand Battement

Back 7

an exercise in which the working leg is is raised from the whipping the air and brought down again (a high kick)

Front 8

Petit Battement

Back 8

another term for tendu, stretch

Front 9

Beats

Back 9

A dancer executes a beat during a jump by striking the calves sharply together

three types- pas battus, entrechats, and brises

Front 10

Chaînés

Back 10

Chains, Links. A series of rapid turns on demi-points done in a straight line or in a circle

Front 11

Petit Changement

Back 11

a little change of the feet from right foot fifth position to left foot fifth position

Front 12

Chassé

Back 12

Chased, A step in which one foot literally chases the other out of its position

Front 13

Coupé

Back 13

Cut, Cutting. The foot cuts the other and takes away its place. May be performed sauté or as a tarre à tare step, croisé or effacé.

Front 14

En croix

Back 14

in the shape of a cross, (your own box)

Front 15

Dégagé

Back 15

The pointing of the foot in an open position with a fully arched instep and is disengaged from the floor it is not a weight transfer.

Front 16

Demi-plié

Back 16

half bend of the knees

Front 17

Derrière

Back 17

to the back

Front 18

Développé

Back 18

developing movement

Front 19

Épaulement

Back 19

Shouldering. The placement of the shoulders. A term used to indicate the movement from the waist upward

Front 20

Fondue

Back 20

sinking down. A term used to describe lowering of the body made by the bending of the knee of the supporting leg.

Front 21

Grand Fouetté Sauté

Back 21

a large fouette (whipping movement) jumping

Front 22

Glissade

Back 22

glide. A traveling step executed by gliding the working foot from fifth position in the required direction , the other foot closing it.

Front 23

Grand jeté

Back 23

in this step both legs are thrown to 90 degrees with a corresponding high jump. It is always preceded by a preliminary movement such as a glissade

Front 24

Pas de bourrée

Back 24

a bourrée changing feet, (back-side-front)

Front 25

Pas de chat

Back 25

cats step. passé to passé jump

Front 26

Passé

Back 26

passed. A movement in which the foot of the working leg passes the knee of the supporting leg from one position to the next.

Front 27

Tombé

Back 27

falling step. a preparatory step which moves falling forward or backward on one foot in demi-plié, transferring the weight of the body

Front 28

Piqué

Back 28

executed by stepping directly onto demi-pointe of the working foot in any desired position or direction with the other foot raised in the air

Front 29

Piqué tour

Back 29

a pirouette in which the dancer steps directly on the demo-pointe with the raised leg in any position

Front 30

Pirouette

Back 30

whirl or spin. a complete turn of the body on one foot on demi-pointe. correct body placement is essential

Front 31

En dedans

Back 31

turning inward towards the supporting leg

Front 32

En dehors

Back 32

turning outward away from the supporting leg

Front 33

Plié

Back 33

a bending of the knee or knees grand plié or demi- plié

Front 34

Port de bras

Back 34

the carriage of the arms. A movement or series of movements made by passing the arm or arms through various positions

Front 35

Relevé

Back 35

raised. A raising of the body on the demi- pointe which is either done smooth and continually or using a little spring

Front 36

Rond de jambe

Back 36

round of the leg. circular movement of the leg can be performed en decor or en sedans both legs perfectly straight and all movement stemming from the hip

Front 37

à terre

Back 37

on the ground

Front 38

Sauté

Back 38

jumped, jumping. Term is added to the name of a step when the movement is performed while jumping

Front 39

Sous-sus

Back 39

a relevé in fifth position when the dancer springs onto demi-pointes drawing the feet and legs tightly together

Front 40

Soutenu

Back 40

sustained, a sustained turn

Front 41

Spotting

Back 41

directs movement using eye and head whipping around

Front 42

Tendu

Back 42

stretched