FundBalletTerm

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)

Fundamentals of Ballet, Dance 10AB, Professor Sheree King

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.

Fundamentals of Ballet, Dance 10AB, Professor Sheree King

BALLET TERMS

DEFINITION

Failli

Giving way. A fleeting movement done on one count. (fah-YEE)

Ferme´

Closed position. As in sissone ferme´.

Fondu

Melting– A term used to describe a lowering of the body made by bending the knee of

the supporting leg. (fawn-DEW)

Frappe´

Literally, struck beating. From the sur la cou-de-pied position (working foot cupped

around the ankle of the supporting foot), thrust the working foot forcefully outward to

an extended position, a few inches above the floor, devant (in front), à la seconde (to

the second position) or derriere (in back), with the ball of the foot brushing on the floor

as it moves outward.

Jambe

Leg (zhahm)

Jete´

Thrown. A jump from one foot to the other in which the working leg is brushed into the

air and appears to be thrown. (zhuhTAY)

Jete´ entrelace´ (tour

jete´)

The body is flung over in mid-air to face the originating position on the land.

Glissade

Glide. A traveling step executed by gliding the working foot from the fifth position in

the required direction, the other foot closing to it. (glee- SAD)

Grand Battement

Large beating. An exercise in which the working leg is raised from the hip into the air

and brought down again, the accent being on the downward movement, both knees

straight. (grahn bat-MAHN)

Grand jete´

Large leap.

Pas

Step. The movement involves a transfer of weight. (pah)

Pas de basque

Basque step. (pah duh bask)

Pas de cheval

Horse’s step. (pah duh shuh-VAL)

Pas de deux

Dance for two.

Pas de bouree´

Bourrée step done on the pointe or demi-pointe. (pah duh boo RAY)

Pas de chat

Cat's-step.The step is done with a jump from fifth to fifth, with one foot landing

immediately after the other. (pah duh shah)

Passe´

Passed. This is an auxiliary movement in which the foot of the working leg passes the

knee of the supporting leg from one position to another. (pa-SAY)

Penche´

Leaning, inclining. As, for example, in arabesque penchee, a high arabesque in which

the body leans forward, the head being low and the foot of the raised leg the highest

point. (pawn-SHAY)

Petit battement

Small beating. In sur le cou de pied position the foot beats front and back of the

ankle.

Fundamentals of Ballet, Dance 10AB, Professor Sheree King

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.

Fundamentals of Ballet, Dance 10AB, Professor Sheree King

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.

Fundamentals of Ballet, Dance 10AB, Professor Sheree King