Ballet Theory Terms (Grades 3-5)

Front 1

How many positions of the feet are there in Ballet?

Back 1

Five

Front 2

How is First position of the feet placed?

Back 2

Heels together, feet turned out to the sides

Front 3

How is Second position of the feet placed?

Back 3

The feet are apart, toes pointed to the side

Front 4

How far apart are the feet in Second position?

Back 4

One and a half the length of your own foot

Front 5

How is Third position of the feet placed?

Back 5

The heel of the front foot placed halfway across in front of the back foot, with both feet turned out

Front 6

Describe 4th position of the feet.

Back 6

The front foot is placed turned out, with the toe of the front foot opposite the heel of the back foot, with the length of the dancers foot between the feet

Front 7

Describe 5th position of the feet.

Back 7

The front foot is placed turned out, level with the big toe joint of the back foot, both feet turned out and touching all over

Front 8

How should the weight of the body be distributed on the feet?

Back 8

On the big toe, little toe and heel

Front 9

What part of the foot leads the way on all forward movements?

Back 9

The heel

Front 10

What part of the foot leads the way on all backward movements?

Back 10

The toe

Front 11

Describe which leg is termed the supporting leg.

Back 11

The one you are standing on

Front 12

Describe which leg is termed the working leg.

Back 12

The one doing the work

Front 13

What does pirouette mean in ballet terms

Back 13

To turn

Front 14

How many ways can you turn?

Back 14

Two - endehors and endedans

Front 15

What does endehors mean?

Back 15

Outwards - away from the supporting leg

Front 16

What does endedans mean?

Back 16

Inwards - towards the supporting leg

Front 17

Where should the raised foot be placed in pirouettes?

Back 17

Little toe underneath the supporting knee - working knee pressed well back

Front 18

What is the action of the supporting foot in pirouettes?

Back 18

To snatch underneath the centre of the body to support the weight

Front 19

What is a Pas de Chat

Back 19

The step of the cat

Front 20

Does a Pas de Chat finish on straight legs or bent?

Back 20

Straight

Front 21

What does Battement Frappe mean?

Back 21

Beating and striking

Front 22

What is the correct height of Battement Frappe?

Back 22

On the neck of the foot

Front 23

What part of the foot strikes the floor in Battement Frappe?

Back 23

Underneath the toes

Front 24

What joints are used in Battement Frappe?

Back 24

The knee and ankle joints

Front 25

What is a Developpe?

Back 25

An unfolding of the leg into the air and holding it there

Front 26

What is Grand Battement?

Back 26

A throwing of the leg into the air

Front 27

Where is the Demi Pointe of the foot?

Back 27

Underneath the foot where the toes join onto the foot

Front 28

What is the action of the supporting foot in Releves?

Back 28

To snatch underneath the centre of the body to support the weight

Front 29

On what part of the foot is a Tendu executed?

Back 29

The big toe

Front 30

What is known as a "Sickle"?

Back 30

An inversion of the ankle

Front 31

What joint is used in armwork?

Back 31

The shoulder joint only

Front 32

Which arm do you follow with your head and eyes, when you are moving the arms from a raised position?

Back 32

The lowering arm

Front 33

What should be the action of the arms in a pirouette?

Back 33

The incoming arm following the lead given by the outgoing arm

Front 34

What is the action of the head when turning?

Back 34

It should be the last to leave the front and the first to return to the front

Front 35

At what level should you focus your eyes?

Back 35

Eye level, no lower

Front 36

How many Arabesque positions of arms are used in our syllabus work?

Back 36

Three

Front 37

What are they? (Arabesque arm positions)

Back 37

1st, 2nd and 3rd Arabesque

Front 38

Describe 1st Arabesque position of arms.

Back 38

The forward arm, which is on the same side as the front foot, is extended, with the fingertips just above head level and the palm facing downwards. The back arm is extended to the side sloping down from the shoulder line, slightly behind the line of the shoulder, with the palm facing downwards

Front 39

Describe 2nd Arabesque position of arms.

Back 39

The forward arm is the opposite to the front foot - it is extended forward at shoulder level - no higher, with the palms facing downward. The side arm is extended to the side, sloping down from the shoulder line, palm facing downwards

Front 40

Describe 3rd Arabesque position of arms.

Back 40

The higher arm is forward in 1st Arabesque and the lower arm is forward in 2nd Arabesque

Front 41

What is an Arabesque?

Back 41

A position in dancing with the weight of the body on one straight leg, the other behind

Front 42

Is an Arabesque a terre or enl'air?

Back 42

Either

Front 43

Is the leg at the back straight or bent? (Arabesque)

Back 43

Straight

Front 44

How many movements are there in a Waltz?

Back 44

Three

Front 45

What is the ballet term for Waltz?

Back 45

Balance

Front 46

How many movements are there in a Pas de Bourree?

Back 46

Three

Front 47

What are the movements of a Pas de Bourree under?

Back 47

Behind, side, front

Front 48

In Grade Three, what Amalgamation includes a Pas de Bourree under?

Back 48

The Waltz Amalgamation

Front 49

What does En avant mean?

Back 49

Travelling forward

Front 50

What does En arriere mean?

Back 50

Travelling backwards

Front 51

What does Echappe Saute mean?

Back 51

To escape with a spring

Front 52

In a Full Plie, what should be clearly shown on the way down and on the way up?

Back 52

A Demi Plie

Front 53

What does Pique mean?

Back 53

Sting - pick up sharply

Front 54

What does Petit Battement mean?

Back 54

Small beating

Front 55

What joint is used in Petit Battement?

Back 55

The knee joint only

Front 56

What is the correct height of Petit Battement?

Back 56

On the neck of the foot

Front 57

What is the ballet term for neck of the foot?

Back 57

Cou de pied

"Coo de pi-aye"

Front 58

What is the Petit Battement Exercise a preparation for?

Back 58

Beats

Front 59

What is the meaning of En cloche?

Back 59

Bell like

Front 60

What is the correct placement of the foot in a Releve Devant?

Back 60

The ankle bone is placed underneath the knee, with the foot fully arched and the raised knee turned out

Front 61

What is the correct placement of the foot in a Releve Derriere?

Back 61

Heel touching the back of the knee, the toe pointed away with the raised knee turned out

Front 62

What do the words Tendu en Fondu mean?

Back 62

To point the working foot and bend the knee of the supporting leg

Front 63

What is an Attitude?

Back 63

A position in dancing with the weight of the body on one straight leg, the other behind

Front 64

Is the leg at the back straight or bent? (Attitude)

Back 64

Bent

Front 65

Which is higher in an Attitude - the knee or the foot?

Back 65

The knee

Front 66

What does en face mean?

Back 66

Facing

Front 67

What is a Glissade?

Back 67

A step and glide

Front 68

How many Glissades are used in our syllabus work?

Back 68

Four

Front 69

What are the four Glissades used in our syllabus work?

Back 69

Devant, Derriere, Over and Under

Front 70

What foot do you start with for a Glissade Over?

Back 70

The back foot, which finishes in the front

Front 71

What foot do you start with for a Glissade Under?

Back 71

The front foot, which finishes at the back

Front 72

What does Glisse mean?

Back 72

Gliding

Front 73

What is Pose?

Back 73

A step from one foot to the other, onto a straight leg

Front 74

What does Coupe mean?

Back 74

To cut the weight of the body from one foot to the other

Front 75

What is a Sissonne?

Back 75

A soft step of elevation which springs off two feet and lands on one foot

Front 76

In which direction does a Sissonne en avant travel?

Back 76

Forward

Front 77

In which direction does a Sissonne en arriere travel?

Back 77

Backwards

Front 78

What does De cote mean?

Back 78

To the side

Front 79

In which direction does a Sissonne de cote travel?

Back 79

Sideways

Front 80

What is an Entrechat?

Back 80

A step of elevation involving two changes of the feet

Front 81

What does Ferme mean?

Back 81

To close

Front 82

Explain the movements of a Royale Ferme.

Back 82

An Entrechat commencing in second position and ending in fifth position

Front 83

What does Contretemp mean?

Back 83

Against the beat

Front 84

Explain the movements of a Full Contretemp.

Back 84

Coupe under, chasse en avant, temps leve, chasse passe

Front 85

What is meant by Petit Retires?

Back 85

Small Retire movements

Front 86

What does Serre mean?

Back 86

Continuous

Front 87

What is a Fouette Battement?

Back 87

A circular Grand Battement from 5th to 5th

Front 88

What is the highest point of a Fouette Battement?

Back 88

Second position

Front 89

What is the meaning of Coupe, Fouette, Raccourci?

Back 89

To cut, whip and return

Front 90

What is a Sissonne ordinaire?

Back 90

A soft step of elevation from two feet alighting on one

Front 91

What constitutes a Sissonne Double

Back 91

A Sissonne ordinaire, Coupe and Assemble

Front 92

What are the movements of a Sissonne Double over?

Back 92

Sissonne ordinaire derriere with an extension to second, Coupe over and Assemble over

Front 93

What is the meaning of Ballone?

Back 93

A buoyant step

Front 94

What does Tombe mean?

Back 94

To fall or drop on to