Terminology

Question 0

A la seconde

Answer 0

( to the side ) A position of the body where on foot is pointed and the arms are in seconde position as well.

Question 1

Adagio

Answer 1

( at ease ) A series of slow, controlled movements which demonstrates the dancer’s beauty and grace.

Question 2

Allegro

Answer 2

( quick and lively ) A series of quick , light movements, generally containing some type of jump, demonstrating the dancers speed and agility.

Question 3

Arabesque

Answer 3

One of the basic poses in ballet. Position of the body, in profile, supported on one leg, which can be straight or in demi-plié, with the other leg extended behind and at right angles to it, and the arms held in various harmonious positions creating a long line from the fingertips to the toes.

Question 4

Attitude Derriere

Answer 4

A position on one leg with the other crossed and lifted in back, the knee bent at a 90 degree angle and well turned out so that the knee is as high or higher than the foot.

Question 5

Attitude Devant

Answer 5

A position on one leg with the other crossed in front and bent with the knee pressed outward and the foot raised as high as possible.

Question 6

Cambré

Answer 6

(arched) the bending of one’s weight either to the front, side

Question 7

Changement

Answer 7

(de pied) (Changing of the feet) This is a jump that begins in fifth position. The dancer then jumps into the air with fully stretched legs and pointed feet, and lands with the other foot in front.

Question 8

Chassé

Answer 8

(Chased) A travelling movement in which one foot literally chases the other out of its position. This step is usually done in a series.

Question 9

Coupé

Answer 9

(To cut) A position in which the working foot is placed on the ankle of the supporting leg.

Question 10

Degagé

Answer 10

(Disengaged) Similar to tendu, the working foot brushes through the tendu position to extend about two inches off the ground, and then closes to either first or fifth position.

Question 11

Derriere

Answer 11

to the back

Question 12

Devant

Answer 12

to the front

Question 13

Developpé

Answer 13

(to develop) Starting from fifth position, the working foot travels up the leg – through coupé and passé – extending out to a straight leg, either front, side, or back. This movement is generally 45 degrees or higher.

Question 14

passé

Answer 14

extending out to a straight leg, either front, side, or back. This movement is generally 45 degrees or higher

Question 15

Echappé

Answer 15

(To escape) A movement in which the legs escape from fifth position to land in second or fourth position, and then return back to fifth position. This is normally accomplished with sautés.

Question 16

En croix

Answer 16

in the pattern of a cross. (Front, side, back, side, as in tendus).

Question 17

Frappé

Answer 17

(To strike) An exercise in which the working leg extends forcefully from a flexed or coupé position to the front, side, or back.

Question 18

Glissade

Answer 18

(To glide) A travelling step executed by brushing the working foot in the desired direction, stepping on it, and

Question 19

Grand Battement

Answer 19

(Large beating) A movement in which the working leg brushes through the tendu position to achieve a

Question 20

Grand Jeté

Answer 20

(Large jeté) In this step the legs are thrown to 90 degrees with a corresponding high jump.

Question 21

Pas de chat

Answer 21

(Cat’s-step) This jump usually travels to the side, beginning in fifth and landing in fifth. The legs are lifted to the side at the height of the knee, the dancer being careful to maintain the maximum turn-out, particularly on the leg closing in front. The dancer makes a beautiful image in mid-air with the knees sharply flexed and feet pointed. This step may be done changing feet or without changing feet.

Question 22

Passé

Answer 22

(Withdrawn/To pass) A position in which the working leg is raised so that the working foot can be placed at the hollow of the knee.

Question 23

Piqué turn

Answer 23

(Pricked turn) Turn executed by stepping directly onto the demi-pointe of the working foot in any desired direction (en dedans, en dehors) or position with the other foot raised in the air. Generally, a basic piqué turn has the working foot pointed at the back of the supporting knee.

Question 24

Plié

Answer 24

(Bent) A bending of the knees. Demi-plié refers to a half bending of the knees in which the heels remain on the ground. Grand-plié refers to full bending of the knees in which the heels come off the ground (except for second position).

Question 25

Relevé

Answer 25

(To rise) A raising of the body onto demi-pointe, either on one or two legs.

Question 26

Rond de Jambe

Answer 26

(Circular movement of the leg) Usually, this is a repetitive exercise in which the working foot brushes from first to the tendu position and performs a half circle, and brushes back to the tendu position and returns to first position

Question 27

Sauté

Answer 27

(To jump) Refers to jumping movements, i.e. sauté in first or second position.

Question 28

Soussus

Answer 28

(Over/under) Both feet spring to a tight relevé position with one foot in front of the other.

Question 29

Soutenu

Answer 29

(Sustained in turning) A pivot turn which is executed on demi-pointe, and eventually changes to have a different foot front in fifth.

Question 30

Tendu

Answer 30

(Stretched) The working foot slides from the first or fifth to fourth or second position while keeping contact with the floor. Both knees must be kept straight.

Question 31

Turn-out

Answer 31

This refers to the dancer’s ability to turn out his or her feet from the hip joint, preferably to a 90 degree angle or more.