Terminology Flashcards
A la seconde
( to the side ) A position of the body where on foot is pointed and the arms are in seconde position as well.
Adagio
( at ease ) A series of slow, controlled movements which demonstrates the dancer’s beauty and grace.
Allegro
( quick and lively ) A series of quick , light movements, generally containing some type of jump, demonstrating the dancers speed and agility.
Arabesque
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.
Attitude Derriere
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.
Attitude Devant
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.
Cambré
(arched) the bending of one’s weight either to the front, side
Changement
(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.
Chassé
(Chased) A travelling movement in which one foot literally chases the other out of its position. This step is usually done in a series.
Coupé
(To cut) A position in which the working foot is placed on the ankle of the supporting leg.
Degagé
(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.
Derriere
to the back
Devant
to the front
Developpé
(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.
passé
extending out to a straight leg, either front, side, or back. This movement is generally 45 degrees or higher
Echappé
(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.
En croix
in the pattern of a cross. (Front, side, back, side, as in tendus).
Frappé
(To strike) An exercise in which the working leg extends forcefully from a flexed or coupé position to the front, side, or back.
Glissade
(To glide) A travelling step executed by brushing the working foot in the desired direction, stepping on it, and
Grand Battement
(Large beating) A movement in which the working leg brushes through the tendu position to achieve a
Grand Jeté
(Large jeté) In this step the legs are thrown to 90 degrees with a corresponding high jump.
Pas de chat
(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.
Passé
(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.
Piqué turn
(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.
Plié
(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).
Relevé
(To rise) A raising of the body onto demi-pointe, either on one or two legs.
Rond de Jambe
(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
Sauté
(To jump) Refers to jumping movements, i.e. sauté in first or second position.
Soussus
(Over/under) Both feet spring to a tight relevé position with one foot in front of the other.
Soutenu
(Sustained in turning) A pivot turn which is executed on demi-pointe, and eventually changes to have a different foot front in fifth.
Tendu
(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.
Turn-out
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.
