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BALLET TERMS DEFINITION
A la seconde One of eight directions of the body, in which the foot is placed in second position and
the arms are outstretched to second position. (ah la suh-GAWND)
A Terre Literally the Earth. The leg is in contact with the floor.
Arabesque One of the basic poses in ballet. It is a position of the body, in profile, supported on
one leg, with the other leg extended behind and at right angles to it, and the arms held in various harmonious positions creating the longest possible line along the body.
Attitude A pose on one leg with the other lifted in back, the knee bent at an angle of ninety
degrees and well turned out so that the knee is higher than the foot. The arm on the side of the raised leg is held over the held in a curved position while the other arm is extended to the side (ah-tee-TEWD)
Adagio A French word meaning at ease or leisure. In dancing, its main meaning is series of
exercises following the center practice, consisting of a succession of slow and graceful movements. (ah-DAHZ-EO)
Allegro Fast or quick. Center floor allegro variations incorporate small and large jumps.
Allonge´ Extended, outstretched. As for example, in arabesque allongé.
Assemble´ Assembled or joined together. A step in which the working foot slides well along the
ground before being swept into the air. As the foot goes into the air the dancer pushes off the floor with the supporting leg, extending the toes. (ah-sahm-BLAY)
En Avant Forward. Used to indicate that a given step is executed moving toward the audience.
Balance´ Rocking step. The weight is shifted from one foot to the other. (ba-lahn-SAY)^ (en
tournant)
Ballon Literally bounce. The springy quality of a jump.
Barre The railing that a dancer uses for balance in the beginning exercises of a ballet class.
Battement A beating action of the extended or bent leg. (bat-MAHN)
Battement Tendu Stretched. As, for example, in battement tendue. (tahn- DEW)
Bras Arm (brah)
Cambre´ Bending the body to the side.
Chaine´ Chains, links. A series of rapid turns on the pointes or demi- pointes done in a straight
line or in a circle (sheh-NAY)
Changement Change of feet. Changements are springing steps in the fifth position, the dancer
changing feet in the air and alighting in the fifth position with the opposite foot in front. (shahnzh-MAHN)
Chasse´ Chased. A step in which one foot literally chases the other out of its position. (sha-
Say)
BALLET TERMS DEFINITION
Coupe´ Cut, cutting. A step is said to be coupe when shortened. (koo-pay)
Corps Body. (kawr)
Corps de ballet The ensemble of dancers in a ballet company. The lowest rank.
Croise´ Crossed. The crossing of the legs with the body placed at an oblique angle to the
audience. (krwah-ZAY)
en Cloche Bell. The leg swings through first like the movement of a bell.
en Croix In a cross. Barre exercises are often done in this pattern.
en Couru Running. The step is done running.
en Dedans Inward. The leg moves in a circular direction, counter-clockwise from back to front.
(ahn duh-DAHN)
en Dehors Outward. The leg moves in a circular direction, clockwise. As for example, in rond de
jambe en dehors. (ahn duh-AWR)
Degage´ Disengaged. A dégagé is the pointing of the foot in an open position with a fully
arched instep. (day-ga-ZHAY)
Derriere Behind, back. This term may refer to a movement, step or placing of a limb in back of
the body. (deh-RYEHR)
Devant In front. (din-VAHN)
Developpe´ Developed. A developpe is a movement in which the working leg is drawn up and
slowly extended to an open position en l’air and held there with perfect control. (davy- law-PAY)
Ecarte´ Separated, thrown wide apart. In this position the dancer faces either front corner.
The leg nearer the audience is pointed in the second position. The arms are held with the raised arm being on the same side as the extended leg. The head is raised slightly and turned toward the raised arm so that the eyes look into the palm of the hand. (ay-kar-TAY)
Echappe´ Escaping or slipping movement. An echappe is a level opening of both feet from a
closed to an open position. (ay-sha-PAY)
Efface´ Shaded. The dancer stands at an oblique angle to the audience so that a part of the
body is taken back and almost hidden from view. (eh-fa- SAY)
En diagonal On the diagonal.
En Face Facing front.
En L’air In the air. (ahn lehr)
En Tournant Turning. The step is done turning.
Epaulement Shouldering. Using the head and shoulders.
BALLET TERMS DEFINITION
Pique´ Pricked, pricking. Executed by stepping directly on the pointe of the working foot in
any desired direction with the other foot raised in the air. (pee- KAY)
Pirouette Whirl or spin. A complete turn of the body on one foot either on the pointe or demi-
pointe, the motive power being obtained from a combination of plie and arm movement. There is a great variety of pirouettes. (peer-WET)
Plie´ Bent, bending. A bending of the knees or knee to render the joints soft and pliable,
and the muscles and tendons flexible and elastic. (plee-AY)
Port de bras Carriage of the arms. (por dih BRAH)
Promenade In a walk. Indicates that the dancer turns slowly on one foot by a series of slight
movements of the heel to the required side while maintaining a definite pose. (ahn prawm-NAD)
Releve´ Raised. A raising of the body on the pointes or demi-pointes, which may be done in
many different positions. (rih-leh-VAY)
Reverence Reverence, curtsey. (ray-vay-RAHNSS)
Rond de jambe Round of the leg; that is, a circular movement of the leg. Ronds de jambe is used as
an exercise at the barre, in the center and in the adage, and is done on the floor (à terre) or in the air (en l’air). (rawn duh zhahnb)
Saute´ Jump, jumping. (so-TAY)
Sissonne Sissonne is named for the originator of the step. The most commond form of sissonne
is the springing off from two feet and landing on one foot, then usually closing the second foot. (see-SAWN)
Soubresaut sudden spring or bound. (soo-bruh-SOH)
Saut de basque Basque jump. A traveling step in which the dancer turns in the air with one foot drawn
up to the knee of the other leg. ( soh duh bask)
Sous-sus Under-over. Sous-sus is a releve in the fifth position. The dancer springs onto the
pointes, drawing the legs and feet tightly together with the heels forced forward so that they give the impression of one foot. (soo-SEW)
Soutenu Sustained in turning. (soot-NEW ahn toor NAHN)
Spotting This is a term given to the movement of the head in turning. The dancer chooses a
spot in front and as the turn is made away from the spot, the head is the last to leave and the first to arrive as the body completes that turn. This snap of the head gives the impression that the face is always turned forward and prevents the dancer from becoming dizzy.
Sur le Cou-de-pied On the neck of the foot. The foot is wrapped at base of the ankle.
Tombe´ Falling down. Used to indicate that the body falls forward or backward onto the
working leg in a demi-plie. (tohm-BAY)
Tutu The tulle skirt a ballerina wears.
BALLET TERMS DEFINITION
Turn Out The ability of the dancer to turn his feet and legs out from the hip joints to a 90-degree
position. This position gives the dancer freedom of movement in every direction.
