Ballet Terms

Front 1

Plié

Back 1

Bending movement of the legs starting with the thighs.

Front 2

demi-plié

Back 2

a half bending movement of the legs starting with the thighs. helps with elevation in dance movements.

Front 3

grand plié

Back 3

a deep bend.

Front 4

fondu

Back 4

deep bend on only one leg

Front 5

In all pliés, the body must be ________ over the feet and the spine _______.

Back 5

In all pliés, the body must be centered over the feet and the spine erect.

Front 6

Élevé

Back 6

rise from straight legs to the balls of the feet

Front 7

Rélevé

Back 7

rise from a demi-plie to the balls of the feet

Front 8

Rélevé and Élevé help with ______,_________, and __________-.

Back 8

Rélevé and Élevé help with strength, suppleness, and control of the feet.

Front 9

Grand Battemet

Back 9

forceful sweeping lift of the leg into the air.

Front 10

frappe

Back 10

a strong brush outward from a raised position at the ankle of the supporting leg

Front 11

degage

Back 11

forceful sweeping of the leg. extended leg with toe pointed.

Front 12

echappe

Back 12

small jumps that start in demi-plie

Front 13

changemaent

Back 13

small jumps that spring from fifth position to fifth position.

Front 14

developpe

Back 14

leg movement that starts with an arabesque following the extension of the leg

Front 15

derriere

Back 15

A movement or step performed to the back of the body.

Front 16

jete

Back 16

a springing jump in ballet made from one foot to the other in any direction

Front 17

coupe

Back 17

means cut, cutting from one foot to the other in a jumping motion.

Front 18

chasse

Back 18

preparatory spring into the air. Gives the apperance of one foot chasing the other from its position.

Front 19

soutenu

Back 19

sustained turning inward

Front 20

saute

Back 20

raised jumped movement, spring from both feet ending in the same position it began.

Front 21

a terre

Back 21

on the ground, feet barley leave the ground

Front 22

retire

Back 22

withdrawing the foot until it touches the front, back, or side knee

Front 23

pique

Back 23

a quick step to the ball of the foot

Front 24

pas de bourre

Back 24

A small stepping movement, executed on the balls of the feet or on pointe, in which the you either skim smoothly across the floor or transfer the weight from foot-to-foot three times as a transition into another movement. A pas-de-bourrée consists of bending both legs, extending one, then stepping up, up, down, finishing with bent knees

Front 25

tombe

Back 25

to fall with all your body weight onto the other leg.