Terms

Question 1

Air, en l’

Answer 1

in the air. Indicates: 1- that a movement is to be made in the air; for example, ronde de jambe, en l’air, 2- that the working leg, after being opens to the second or fourth position a terre, is to be raised to a horizontal position with the toe in the level of the hip.

Question 2

Allegro

Answer 2

Brisk,lovely. A term applied to all bright and brisk movements. All steps of elevation such as enterchat, cabriole, assemble, jete and so on, come under the classification.

Question 3

Allonge

Answer 3

Extended, outstretched. As, for example, in an arabesque allonge.

Question 4

Arabesque

Answer 4

One of the basic poses in ballet, arabesque takes the name from a form of Moorish ornament. In ballet it is the position of the body, in profile, supported on one leg, which can be straight or Demi- plié, which the other leg extended behind at right angles to it, and the arms held in various harmonious positions creating the longest possible line from the fingertips to the toes. The shoulders must be held square to the wind of direction.

Question 5

Assemble

Answer 5

Assemble are joined together. Step in which the working foot brush is well on the ground before being swept up into the air. As the front goes into the air the dancer person pushes off the floor with the supporting leg extending the toes. Both the legs come to the ground send me simultaneously simultaneously in the fifth position

Question 6

Attitude

Answer 6

A particular pose in dancing by Carlo Blasis from this statue of mercury by Giovanni da Bologna.

Question 7

Balance

Answer 7

Rocking step. And alteration about once shifting the weight from one foot to the other balance may be done crossing for either front or back. Balance is done in three count.

Question 8

Ballonne, pas

Answer 8

Ball like a bouncing step. Step in which the dancer springs into the air extending like to the front side or backand clams with the extended like either sur le cou-de pied or retire.

Question 9

Ballotte

Answer 9

To toss about. I jump for the working leg goes either through coupe developpe or passé developpe as you jump, then comes back in the reverse.

Question 10

Bas, en

Answer 10

Low. Used indicate a low position or the arms.

Question 11

Battement

Answer 11

Beat. A beating action of the extended our bent leg. There are two types of battement, Grand battement and petite battement. Petite battement are: battement tudus, degages, frappes, and tendu releve: grand battement (large beat) is an exercise in which the working leg is raised from the hip into the air and brought down again, the accent can be on the downward or upward movement, both knees straight.

Question 12

Battu

Answer 12

Beaten. Any steps embellished with a beat called a pas battu.

Question 13

Brise

Answer 13

Broken, breaking. A small beating stop and watch the movement is broken. Br

Question 14

Adagio, adage

Answer 14

Adage is a French word derived from the Italian ad adgio, meaning at ease or leisure. A succession of slow and graceful movements which develop a sustaining power, sense of line, balance, and beautiful poise.

Question 15

Brise vole

Answer 15

Flying Brise. In this brise the dancer finishes on one foot after the beat, the other leg crosses front or back sweeping through first and reverse.

Question 16

Cabriole

Answer 16

Caper. An allegro step in which the extended legs are beaten in the air. The working leg is thrust into the air, the underneath leg follows and bets against the first leg, sending it higher. The landing is made on the underneath leg.

Question 17

Cambre

Answer 17

Arched. The body is bent from the waist, backward or sideways, the head following the movement of the body.

Question 18

Chaines

Answer 18

Chains, links. A series of rapid turns on the point or demi-pointes done in the first position, in a straight line or circle.

Question 19

Changement

Answer 19

Change of feet. Changements are springing steps in the fifth position, the dancer changing feet in the air and alighting in fifth position with the opposite foot in the front.

Question 20

Changement battu

Answer 20

changement beaten. Same as a royale.

Question 21

Chasse

Answer 21

Chased. A step in which one foot literally chases the other foot out of its position by sliding the foot in plie.

Question 22

Cloche, en

Answer 22

Like a bell. Refers to grand battement executed continuously devant and derriere through the first position.

Question 23

Contretemps

Answer 23

Beating against the time. A step executed quickly and prior to the beat of the music. A term of the Cecchetti method and French school. A rond de jambe en dedans into a step or jete.

Question 24

Con-de pied, sur le

Answer 24

On the neck or throat of the foot. The working foot is placed on the part of the leg between the base of the calf and the beginning of the ankle, wrapping around the ankle.

Question 25

Coupe

Answer 25

A cutting. The position of a pointed foot at the ankle or an action as a preparation or impetus for some other step where one foot replaces the other.

Question 26

Croise

Answer 26

Crossed. One of the positions of the body where one leg appears to be crossed in front of the other.

Question 27

Croix, en

Answer 27

In the shape of a cross. Indicates that an exercise is to be executed to the front, to the second position, and to the back, or vice versa.

Question 28

Dedans, en

Answer 28

Inward. In steps and exercises the therm en dadans indicates that the leg, in a position a terre or en l'air moves in a circular direction inward.

Question 29

Degage

Answer 29

Disengaged or disengaging step. A degage is the action of brushing the foot off the floor and returning to a position.

Question 30

Dehors, en

Answer 30

Outward. In steps and exercises the term en dehors indicates that the leg, in a position a terre or en l'air, moves in a circular direction outward.

Question 31

Demi-plie

Answer 31

Half bend of the knees. All steps of elevation begin and end with a demi-plie,

Question 32

Derriere

Answer 32

Behind, back. This term may refer to a movement, a step or placing of a limb in back of the body.

Question 33

Dessous

Answer 33

Under. Indicates that the working foot passes behind the supporting foot.

Question 34

Dessus

Answer 34

Over. Indicates that the workign foot passes in front of the supporting foot.

Question 35

Detourne

Answer 35

Turned aside. A detourne is a pivot turn on both pointes or demi pointes. It is a complete turn toward the back foot and reverses the position of the feet.

Question 36

Devant

Answer 36

In front. This term may refer to a step, movement or placing of a limb in front of the body.

Question 37

Developpe

Answer 37

Developing movement. A developpe is a movement in which the working leg is drawn up to the knee of the supporting leg and slowly extended to an open position en l'air and held there with perfect control. The hips are kept level and square to the direction the dancer is facing.

Question 38

Ecarte

Answer 38

Separated, thrown wide apart. Once of the directions of the body on a diagonal line, in an open position with the working leg in second position

Question 39

Echappe

Answer 39

Escaping or slipping movement. An echappe is a level opening of both feet from a closed to an open position. There are two kinds of echappe: echappe saute, which is done with a spring from the fifth position and finishes in a demi-plie in the open position, and echappe sur le pointes or demi pointes which is done with a releve and has straight knees when in the open position. In each case echappe are done to the second or fourth position, both feet traveling an equal distance from the center of gravity.

Question 40

Efface

Answer 40

shaded or open. One of the directions of the body in which the legs are open, with the working leg either in front or in back of the standing leg, on a diagonal line.

Question 41

Eleve

Answer 41

To press up or rise to demi pointe.

Question 42

Emboite

Answer 42

Fitted together, boxed. The name is derived from the close fitting of the feet like a lid on a box. It is a type of jete done without a brush of the working foot. Also, emboite en tourant- emboite turning. These are quick jumping turns done wither in a straight line or in a circle. The jumps are not high but should have a light elastic quality.

Question 43

Entrechat

Answer 43

Interweaving or braiding. A step of beating in which the dancer jumps into the air and rapidly crosses the legs before and behind each other. Enterchat are counted from two to ten according to the number of crossing required and counting each crossing as two movements, one by each leg: that is, in an enterchat quatre each leg makes two distinct movments.

Question 44

Epaulement

Answer 44

Shouldering, The placing of the shoulders in relation to the head. A term used to indicate a movement of the torso from the waist upward, bringing one shoulder forward and the other back with the head turned or inclined over the forward shoulder. The two fundamental position of epaulement are croise and efface.

Question 45

Face, en

Answer 45

Opposite (of the audience) Facing the audience.

Question 46

Failli

Answer 46

Giving way or follow through. A fleeting movement done on one count. A change of weight going through a chasse.

Question 47

Ferme

Answer 47

Closed. Indicates that both feet are in a closed position or that the feet at the end of a step brought to a closed position.

Question 48

Fondu

Answer 48

to melt. A term used to describe a lowering of the body made by bending the knee of the supporting leg. Fondu is on one leg what a plie is on two.

Question 49

Frappe

Answer 49

Struck. An exercise in which the dancer forcefully extends the working leg from a flexed or pointed cou-de-pied position to the front, side, or back. This exercise strengthens the toes and in steps and develops the power of elevationn.

Question 50

Fouette

Answer 50

Whipped. A term applied to a whipping movement. There are great variety of fouettes. i.e. fouette turns, or fouette jumps. To stand on one leg and to change the hip and body direction while keeping the leg in the same place. Can also be done in the air.

Question 51

Fouette rond de jambe en tournant

Answer 51

A turn made by using a fouette. for each turn the dancer stands momentarily on flat foot and in plie, as the working leg is extended in the fourth position en l'air front the whipped around to the side as the working foot is pulled in to touch behind the supporting knee. That creates the impetus to spin on turn as the dancer executes a releve, rising onto pointe. Don properly, the dancer remains in place.

Question 52

Glissade

Answer 52

Glide. A traveling step executed by gliding the working foot from a demi plie in the fifth position to the required direction, the other foot closing to it.

Question 53

Jete

Answer 53

Throwing. A jump from one foot to the other in which the working leg is brushed into the air and appears to have been thrown. There are wide variety of jetes and they may be performed in all directions

Question 54

Ouvert

Answer 54

Open, opened. This may refer to position, limps, directions, or certain exercises or steps.

Question 55

Pas de basque

Answer 55

Basque step. A characteristic step of the national dances of the Basque that has been adapted to ballet use. There are two types of basque: pas de basque glisse, which is done close to the floor, and pas de basque saute, which is jumped

Question 56

Pas de bouree

Answer 56

Changing step. Three steps moving back, side front or in reverse.

Question 57

Pas de bouree couru

Answer 57

Running bourree. This is a progression on the pointe or demi-pointe by a series of small even steps with the feet close together.

Question 58

Pas de chat

Answer 58

Cat's step. This is a jumping step that owes its name to the likeness of movements to a cat's leap.

Question 59

Pas de cheval

Answer 59

Horse's step. This step is so called because it resembles that movement of a horse pawing the ground.

Question 60

Passe

Answer 60

Passed. This is an auxiliary movement in which the foot of the working leg passes the knee of the supporting leg from on position to another.

Question 61

Penche

Answer 61

Leaning, inclined. For example, in arabesque penche.

Question 62

Pique

Answer 62

Pricked, pricking. To prick the floor or to step on a straight leg as in pique arabesque or pique turns.

Question 63

Pique turn

Answer 63

Pique turning. This is a pirouette in which the dancer steps directly onto the pointe or demi-pointe. Pirouettes are performed en dedans, turning inward toward the standing leg, or en dehors, turning outward in the direction of the raised leg. Correct body placement is essential in all kinds of pirouettes.

Question 64

Plie

Answer 64

Bent, bending. As an exercise, it develops and strengthens the turn-out, renders the joints and muscles pliable, the tendons flexible and elastic, and always used in jumping for strong take-off and cushioning landing.

Question 65

Port de bras

Answer 65

Carriage of the arms. The term port de bras has two meanings: 1- A movement or series of movements made by passing the arm or arms through various position. The passage of the arms from one position to the other constitutes a port de bra. 2- A term for a group of exercises designed to make the arms move gracefully and harmoniously.

Question 66

Promenade

Answer 66

Turn in a walk. A term of the French school used to indicate that the dancer turns slowly in a place on one foot by series of slight movements of the heel to the required side while maintaining a definite pose such as an arabesque or attitude.

Question 67

Releve

Answer 67

Raised. A raising of the body on the pointes or demi pointes. There are two ways to releve. In the french school, releve is done with a smooth continuous rise while the Cecchetti method and the Russian school use a little spring.

Question 68

Retire

Answer 68

With drawn, resting. A position in which the thigh is raised to the second position en l'air with knee bent so that the pointed toe rests in front of, behind or to the side of the supporting knee.

Question 69

Ronde de jambe a terre

Answer 69

Round of the leg on the ground. A circular movmemnt of the leg either en dehors, or en dedans

Question 70

Ronde de jambe en l'air

Answer 70

Roudn of the leg in the air. A circular movement of the leg in the air either en dehors or en dedans.

Question 71

Royal

Answer 71

A changement in which the calves are beaten together before the feet change position. also termed change battu

Question 72

Saut de basque

Answer 72

Basque jump. A traveling step in which the dancer turns in the air with one foot drawn up to the knee, retire, or coupe position of the other leg.

Question 73

Saute

Answer 73

Jumped, jumping. When this term is added to the name of a step the movement is performed while jumping.

Question 74

Seconde, a la

Answer 74

To the second. A term used to describe that the foot is to be placed in the second position or that a movement is to be made in the second position in the air.

Question 75

Serre

Answer 75

Tight close. For example, in petite battement serres

Question 76

Sissonne

Answer 76

named for the originator of the step. It is a jump from both feet onto one foot with both feet usually performed traveling in either a croise or efface direction and landing on both feet.

Question 77

Soubresaut

Answer 77

sudden spring or bound. A springing jump from both feet hitting a sous-sus position in the air and landing on two feet.

Question 78

Sous-sus

Answer 78

Under-over. A term of the Cecchetti method. The dancer springs onto the points or demi-pointes, drawing the feet close together.

Question 79

Soutenu

Answer 79

Sustained. A half or full turn in fifth position, on two straight legs.

Question 80

Temps de fleche

Answer 80

Hitch kick. From fifth position, fifth perform a grand battement with the front leg, then a second with the back leg before the leg alights. the legs pass each in the air.

Question 81

Temps leve

Answer 81

Time raised, or raising movement. the dancer, after a demi-plie, jumps in the air and then lands with the feet in the same position as they started. It can also be performed from one foot, while the other keeps the same position it had before starting the jump.

Question 82

Temps lie

Answer 82

Connected movement. It teaches the control and balance in transmitting the weight of the body from position to another with a smooth, rhythmical movement.

Question 83

Tendu

Answer 83

Stretched. The working foot slides from the first to the fifth position to the second or fourth position without lifting the toe from the ground. Both knees must be kept straight.

Question 84

Tombe

Answer 84

Falling. This is a movement in which the dancer, with the working leg raised in the air, falls forward, backward, or sideways onto the fondue on the working leg i.e. tombe pas de bouree

Question 85

Tour en l'air

Answer 85

Turn in the air. It is a turn in the air in which the dancer rises straight into the air from a demi-plie, makes a complete turn and lands in the fifth position with the feet reversed.

Question 86

Tour jete, Jete en tournant en arriere

Answer 86

(Cecchettie method)- Large throw. Large jete turning and moving backward usually preceded by a chasse. Same as jete entrelace. (Russian school)

Question 87

Cecchettie method

Answer 87

Enrico Cecchettie, on of the world's outsid