Ballet Terms Flashcards
A small or half knee bend
Demi Plie
Big or full knee bend
Grande Plie
To slide food to a pointed position; meaning to stretch
Tendu
To the front
Devant
To the side
A la seconde
Behind
Derriere
Meaning to disengage: exercise similar to tendu that finishes with the foot lifted from the ground in a point
Degage
Slow graceful steps using balance, control, and extensions
Adagio
Faster livelier steps
Allegro
Meaning chains or linked; a series of turns on point or demi point done in a straight line or circle
Chaine
Done at the conclusion of ballet class; bows and curtsies to slow music, paying respect/thanks to the teacher and pianist
Reverence
Meaning round of the legs; an exercise in which you mark out a semi-circle on the floor with your pointed toe
Rond De Jambe
Movement outward
En De Hors
Movement Inwards
En De Dans
To strike or hit the floor: hit the ball of the foot on the floor and extend, bring foot back in heel to ankle knee turned out
Frappes
A position in which you balance on one leg with the other stretched out behind you
Arabesque
Meaning big kick; an exercise in which you raise your pointed foot high off the ground keeping both legs straight
Grande Battlement
Meaning to pass; when a foot is placed near, on, below, or above the other knee
Passe
Pricked; strongly pointed toe of the lifted and extended leg sharply lowers to hit the floor then immediately rebounds upward
Pique
To glide; traveling step starting in fifth position with demi-plie, glide your foot along the floor and transfer your weight
Glissade
Three quick steps; behind, side, front ending in demi-plie
Pas De Bouree
The step on the cat. The dancer jumps sideways and while in mid-air bends both legs up bringing the feet as high as possible with knees apart
Pas De Chat
Assembled: a jump from one foot landing on two, the working leg swings out, jump up landing in fifth position
Assemble
A jump done from two feet to one, scissor switch
Sissone
Changing; a jump in which the feet change positions in the air
Changement
To rise; lifted, done from any position and balancing
Releve
Chased; a slide forwards, backwards, or sideways with both legs bent then springing into the air with both legs meeting and straightened
Chasse
