Ballet Terms Flashcards
A la seconde
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 Terre
the Earth. The leg is in contact with the floor.
Arabesque
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.
Attitude
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)
Adagio
A French word meaning at ease or leisure. In dancing, its main meaning is a series of exercises following the center practice, consisting of a succession of slow and graceful movements. (ah-DAHZ-EO)
Allegro
Fast or quick. Center floor allegro variations incorporate small and large jumps.
Assemble
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)
En Avant
Forward. Used to indicate that a given step is executed moving toward the audience.
Balance
Rocking step. The weight is shifted from one foot to the other. (ba-lahn-SAY) (en tournant)
Ballon
Literally bounce. The springy quality of a jump.
Barre
The railing that a dancer uses for balance in the beginning exercises of a ballet class.
Battement
A beating action of the extended or bent leg.(bat-MAHN)
Bras
Arm (brah)
Cambre
Bending the body to the side.
Chaine
Chains, links. A series of rapid turns on the pointes or demi-pointes done in
a straight line or in a circle (sheh-NAY)
Changement
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)
Chasse
Chased. A step in which one foot literally chases the other out of its position. (sha Say)
Coupe
to cut, cutting. A step is said to be coupe when shortened. (koo-pay)
Corps de ballet
The ensemble of dancers in a ballet company. The lowest rank.
Croise
Crossed. The crossing of the legs with the body placed at an oblique angle to the audience. (krwah ZAY)
en Cloche
Bell. The leg swings through first like the movement of a bell.
en Croix
In a cross. Barre exercises are often done in this pattern.
en Dedans
Inward. The leg moves in a circular direction, counter-clockwise from back to front. (ahn duh DAHN)
en Dehors
Outward. The leg moves in a circular direction, clockwise. As for example, in rond de jambe en dehors. (ahn duh-AWR)
Degage
Disengaged. A dégagé is the pointing of the foot off the floor (day-ga-Zhay)
Derriere
Behind, back. This term may refer to a movement, step or placing of a limb in back of the body. (deh-RYEHR)
Devant
In front. (din-VAHN)
Developpe
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. (davylaw pay)
Ecarte
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)
Echappe
Escaping or slipping movement. An echappe is a level opening of both feet from a closed to an open position. (ay-sha-PAY)
Efface
Shaded. The dancer stands at an oblique angle to the audience so that a part of the dancer is taken back and almost hidden from view. (eh-fa-say)
En Face
Facing front.
Epaulement
Shoulder movement. Using the head and shoulders.
Ferme
Closed position.
Fondu
to melt. A term used to describe a lowering of the body made by bending the knee of the supporting leg. (fawn-DEW)
Frappe
to strike. 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.
Jambe
Leg (zhahm)
Jete
to throw. A jump from one foot to the other in which the working leg is brushed into the air and appears to be thrown. (zhuhTAY)
Glissade
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)
Grand Battement
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 Jete
Large leap.
Pas de Cheval
step of the horse. (pah duh shuh-VAL)
Pas de Deux
Dance for two.
Pas de Bouree
Bourrée step done on the pointe or demi-pointe. (pah duh boo RAY), back, side, front
Pas de Chat
step of the cat.The step is done with a jump from fifth to fifth, with one foot landing immediately after the other. (pah duh shah)
Passe
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)
Pique
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)
Pirouette
Whirl or spin. A complete turn of the body on one foot either on the pointe or demipointe, the motive power being obtained from a combination of plie and arm movement. There is a great variety of pirouettes. (peer-WET)
Plie
to bend. A bending of the knees or knee to render the joints soft and pliable, and the muscles and tendons flexible and elastic. (plee-AY)
Port de bras
Carriage of the arms. (por dih BRAH)
Releve
Raised. A raising of the body on the pointes or demi-pointes, which may be done in many different positions. (rih-leh-VAY)
Reverence
Reverence, curtsey. (ray-vay-RAHNSS)
Rond de jambe
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 (à terre) or in the air (en l’air). (rawn duh zhahnb)
Saute
Jump, jumping. (so-TAY)
Sous-sus
Under-over. Sous-sus is a releve in the fifth position. The dancer springs onto demi pointes, drawing the legs and feet tightly together with the heels forced forward so that they give the impression of one foot. (S00-SEW)
Soutenu
Sustained in turning. (soot-NEW )
Spotting
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.
Sur le Cou-de-pied
On the neck of the foot. The foot is wrapped at base of the ankle.
Tendu
to stretch, pointing the toes
Tombe
Falling down. Used to indicate that the body falls forward or backward onto the working leg in a demi-plie. (tohm-BAY)
Tutu
the tulle skirt a ballerina wears.
Turn Out
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.
