Beginner Ballet Terms

Question 1

Por de bra

Answer 1

Movement of arms

Question 2

Plié

Answer 2

To bend

Question 3

Releve

Answer 3

Lift or rise

Question 4

Tendu

Answer 4

Stretch (toe on the floor)

Question 5

Dégagé

Answer 5

To disengage foot from the floor

Question 6

Rond de jamb

Answer 6

Circle of the leg

Question 7

Retire

Answer 7

Position w/ working foot to standing knee

Question 8

Sauté

Answer 8

Small jump

Question 9

Passé

Answer 9

The action of passing through retiré

Question 10

A terre

Answer 10

On the floor

Question 11

En l’air

Answer 11

In the air

Question 12

Chasé

Answer 12

To chase, transition step

Question 13

En croix

Answer 13

On the cross

Question 14

Fondú

Answer 14

To melt, pile on the leg

Question 15

Pas de bouré

Answer 15

Three step transition

Question 16

Grande battement

Answer 16

Big kick

Question 17

Glisade

Answer 17

To glide, when one step joins another

Question 18

Pas de chat

Answer 18

Step of the cat (Demi plié, toe to front knee, jets to same position on other leg)

Question 19

Jete

Answer 19

Jump from one leg to the other

Question 20

Grande jete

Piete jete

Answer 20

Big jete

Small jete

Question 21

Tour jete

Answer 21

Jump with turn

Question 22

Changemount

Answer 22

Start from 5th change feet in small jump

Question 23

Echappe

Answer 23

To escape escaping from 5th to 2nd or 4rth

Question 24

Frappé

Answer 24

To strike

Question 25

Pirouette

Answer 25

A turn

Question 26

En de dans

Answer 26

Toward supporting leg, inside turn

Question 27

En de hors

Answer 27

Away from supporting leg, outside turn