Ballet French Terms

Question 1

A terre

Answer 1

On the ground / floor

Question 2

Slow soft controlled movement

Answer 2

Adage

Question 3

Arabesque

Answer 3

A position on one leg with the other behind either à terre, or en l’air

Question 4

To assemble, to join

Answer 4

Assemblé

Question 5

Attitude

Answer 5

A standing position on one leg with the other bent at an angle behind

Question 6

To bounce (with a closing action on the working leg)

Answer 6

Ballonné

Question 7

To beat (movement with a closing action)

Answer 7

Battement

Question 8

To slide

Answer 8

Chassé

Question 9

To cut

Answer 9

Coupé

Question 10

Crossed to the audience

Answer 10

Croisé

Question 11

De coté

Answer 11

To the side

Question 12

Demi

Answer 12

Half

Question 13

Demi- détourné

Answer 13

Half turn (turn towards the back foot)

Question 14

Derrière

Answer 14

To the back

Question 15

To the front

Answer 15

Devant

Question 16

To develop or unfold

Answer 16

Developpé

Question 17

To escape (a jumper relevé from 1st 3rd or 5th to 2nd or 4th)

Answer 17

Echappé

Question 18

Travelling backwards

Answer 18

En arrière

Question 19

Travelling forwards

Answer 19

En avant

Question 20

In the shape of a cross front side back or back side front)

Answer 20

En croix

Question 21

Inwards (towards the supporting leg)

Answer 21

En dedans

Question 22

Outwards (away from the supporting leg)

Answer 22

En dehors

Question 23

Dancing the audience (opposite)

Answer 23

En face

Question 24

En l’air

Answer 24

In the air

Question 25

Enchainment

Answer 25

A combination of steps (a linked phrase of movement)

Question 26

Épaulement

Answer 26

Use of shoulders, upper back, neck, looking over the shoulder

Question 27

Fondu

Answer 27

To melt

Question 28

Frappé

Answer 28

To strike (like lighting a match on the floor)

Question 29

Glissadé

Answer 29

To glide

Question 30

Grand

Answer 30

Large

Question 31

Jeté

Answer 31

To throw

Question 32

Open to the audience

Answer 32

Ouvert

Question 33

Pas de basque

Answer 33

A movement from 5th incorporating a rond de jambe a terre and closing to 5th

Question 34

Pas de bourré

Answer 34

Small/ tight running steps (5th to 2nd or 4th back to 5th)

Question 35

Pas de chat

Answer 35

Step of the cat a jump from 5th to 5th with an overlapping action with each leg bending and unfurling, one after the other

Question 36

Passé

Answer 36

To pass (retire passé: the working legs toes supported just under the supporting knee)

Question 37

Petit

Answer 37

Small

Question 38

Pirouette

Answer 38

To turn

Question 39

Plié

Answer 39

To bend

Question 40

Port de bras

Answer 40

Carriage of the arms

Question 41

Posé

Answer 41

To step (onto a straight leg)

Question 42

Relevé

Answer 42

To rise with a small rising action starting with a plié (bent knees)

Question 43

Retiré

Answer 43

To draw up (the supporting leg)

Question 44

Rond de jambe

Answer 44

Round the supporting leg

Question 45

Sauté

Answer 45

To spring

Question 46

Sissonne

Answer 46

A scissor step - a jump from two feet to two feet

Question 47

Soubresaut

Answer 47

A single jump (without changing feet)

Question 48

Soutenu

Answer 48

To sustain (a turning action revolving the feet, either travelling or on the spot)

Question 49

Sur le cou-de-pied

Answer 49

On the neck of the foot

Question 50

Temps levé

Answer 50

To hop (a jump taking off and landing on the same foot)

Question 51

Tendu

Answer 51

To stretch (an extending action of the leg a terre with a return closing action)

Question 52

Passeé devant

Answer 52

Pass to the front

Question 53

Passé derrière

Answer 53

Pass foot to the back