Ballet Terms

Question 1

adagio

Answer 1

A music term used for slow, sustained movements.

Question 2

allegro

Answer 2

Rapid tempo movements, often includes jumping steps. Petit allegro includes smaller jumping steps. Grand allegro includes large expansive jumps such as grand jeté.

Question 3

attitude

Answer 3

The hip of the gesture leg is at 90°, the knee is bent, and the foot is pointed. Attitude croisée devant: the leg is lifted to the front.

Question 4

arabesque

Answer 4

The gesture leg is extended behind the dancer’s body at 90° or higher, which requires hip and spine hyperextension, knee extension, and ankle-foot plantarflexion.

Question 5

barre

Answer 5

The introductory / warm up portion of the ballet class, conducted while holding onto a ballet bar. The dancer always starts with the left hand at the bar, working the right gesture leg.

Question 6

changement

Answer 6

“Changing the feet”. A vertical jump with a change of feet in the air (from fifth position front to fifth back).

Question 7

chasse

Answer 7

“Chasing one foot with the other”. The leading foot slides forward into fourth (or side-ward into second), then with a spring off the floor, the stance limb draws up to it in the air, and the leading foot opens to land in fourth (or second). Used as a traveling or transition step.

Question 8

coupe

Answer 8

To cut”. A small intermediary step, used as a link between steps.

Question 9

degage

Answer 9

“To disengage”. Sharp brushes of the pointed foot to develop speed and precision of the feet and legs.

Question 10

dehors, en

Answer 10

Outward. A circular movement of the gesture limb from front to back, or a turn which moves away from the stance limb.

Question 11

developpe

Answer 11

A large, relatively slow leg gesture. The gesture limb begins from first or fifth position, passes through passé, to extend at 90° or higher to the front (en avant), side (a la seconde), or back (en arrière - arabesque).

Question 12

fondu

Answer 12

“Melted”. A slow demi-plié of the stance limb.

Question 13

frappe

Answer 13

Beginning from the cou-de-pied position, a rapid striking ricochet (off the floor) of the gesture foot, ending in a pointed position. Develops strength and precision of the gesture limb. glissade: “Slide or glide”. A linking or preparatory step. The initiating leg slides out into dégagè, weight is transferred to it to allow the other leg to point and slide into fifth. It can be performed slow (adagio) or fast (allegro), but is always smooth and continuous.

Question 14

grand battement

Answer 14

A large, swift leg “kick” with the knee extended and foot pointed. Performed to the front, side, or back and from first, fifth, or the point tondu.

Question 15

l’aire

Answer 15

In the air.

Question 16

pas de bourree

Answer 16

A basic linking step which permits a change from one fifth position to another.

Question 17

pas de chat

Answer 17

“Step of the cat”. A jump beginning and ending in fifth position.

Question 18

passe

Answer 18

Similar in shape to the retiré: the hip is abducted and externally rotated, the knee is bent, the foot is pointed, and the toe touches the knee of the stance limb.

Question 19

penche

Answer 19

Inclined. Usually arabesque penché, in which the torso and gesture limb are tilted forward from the hip. This directs the torso and focus toward the floor.

Question 20

petite

Answer 20

Small, little.

Question 21

pique

Answer 21

“Pricked”. A step in which the body moves sharply onto the pointe or demi-pointe of the opposite foot. This action can be immediately followed by a turning motion, known as a piqué turn.

Question 22

piroutte

Answer 22

“Whirl or spin”. A controlled turn on one leg in relevé. The gesture leg may be held in retiré (passé), seconde, attitude, cou-de-pied, etc. The turn may be performed en dedans or en dehors.

Question 23

plie

Answer 23

A bend of the knees while the torso is held upright. The action relies on varying degrees of hip and knee flexion, with ankle and MTP dorsiflexion, depending on whether the plié is demi- or grand.

Question 24

port-de-bras

Answer 24

Carriage of the arms.

Question 25

releve

Answer 25

A rise or spring onto the toes (demi- or full pointe) from plié.

Question 26

ronde de jambe

Answer 26

A unilateral leg action in which the gesture leg is circled from front to back of the dancer’s body, or vice versa. May be performed on the ground (a terre) or in the air (en l’aire).

Question 27

sissonne

Answer 27

A jump from two feet onto one foot in various directions.

Question 28

tendu

Answer 28

A jump from two feet onto one foot in various directions.