Ballet Vocabulary
Ballet – A theatrical presentation of dance, usually set to music.
Act – The name given to a large section of a long ballet. Acts are usually divided by a break called an intermission.
Premiere – The first performance of ballet.
Repertoire – All the ballets or dances a company performs.
Overture – A musical introduction to a ballet, played by the orchestra before the curtain goes up.
The Hierarchy of a Ballet Company
(Shown in order from top of company to the bottom)
Principal Dancer – These dancers get the leading roles in the ballet. They are the main characters of the storyline.
Soloist – A step below the principal dancers. These dancers usually get featured roles, and often take part in group scenes.
Corps de ballet – The largest group of dancers who dance as an ensemble, often creating intricate floor patterns. The corps is the heart and soul of any ballet company.
Apprentices – These dancers usually hired on a yearly basis and may or may not become members of the company. They dance along with the corps most of the time.
Students of the ballet school – These are students that attend the ballet school or academy associated with the dance company. They sometimes get the opportunity to perform in crowd scenes in the major ballets, such as The Nutcracker (roles like mice, soldiers or party children).
Best – Loved Classical Ballets
1. La Sylphide
Original choreography by Philippe Taglioni
2. Giselle
Original choreography by Jean Coralli and Jules Perrot, with additional choreography by Marius Petipa
3. Don Quixote
Original choreography by Marius Petipa
4. Coppe`lia
Original choreography by Arthur Michel Saint-Leòn
5. La Bayade`re
Original choreography by Marius Petipa
6. Swan Lake
Original choreography by Julius Reisinger and revised by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov
7. Sleeping Beauty
Original choreography by Marius Petipa
8. The Nutcracker
Original choreography by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov
9. Romeo and Juliet
Original choreography by Leonid Lavrovsky
10. Cinderella
Original choreography by Rotislav Zakharov
Form a small group of 4-5 people:
Create a Powerpoint or Prezi presentation that includes the following information:
Musical Composer brief biography with picture
Choreographer(s) brief biography with picture
Premiere performance date and location, theatre
Plot or Synopsis of the ballet
Main characters and importance in the ballet
Photos from the classical ballet
Cite all resources
Email:
Oral presentation: Each group member needs to contribute to the presentation by speaking about their own research area.
Due Date: Wednesday, September 27th
August 23, 2017
Ballet Barre Exercises
Demi plie` – slight bending of the knees. A slow bending of both legs, knees turned out to the side at the right angle to the front of the body, heels on the floor. It is a warm up exercise.
Grande Plie` – A deep bending of the knees. A slow bending of both legs, knees turned out to the side at the right angle to the front of the body, heels lifted off the floor (except 2nd position). Performed as a warm up.
Tendu – In classical ballet, a movement which is stretched or held.
De`gage` – means disengaged. A movement in which one foot is freed to move forward, backward, or to the side along the floor. It is like a tendu only the foot is lifted off the floor at a 45-degree angle.
Fondu – means to melt. A step where the dancer bends the supporting leg. Also, a soft melting quality of movement. i
Ronde de jambe en l’air – A movement in classical ballet in which one leg moves in a straight line away rom the body before defining a semi-circular motion with the leg in the air.
Ballet Barre Excercises (continued)
September 6, 2017
Releve`- (to rise). A rise from flat floor to half or full point, which may be executed smoothly or with a slight spring.
Coupe`- (to cut). A movement that calls for the foot to sharply pull off the floor and placed either in front or back of the ankle.
Passe`- (to pass). A position and/or movement that requires the working leg to have its foot pointed to the side of the supporting leg’s knee.
Rond de jambe – (round of the leg). A movement in classical ballet in which one leg moves in a straight line away from the body before defining a semi-circle motion.
Frappe`- (to strike). A sudden speeding up of the motion as your foot strikes the floor.
Petit Battement – (little beats of the leg). A ballet term which indicates a beating movement of a stretched or bent leg.
Grand Battement – (high kick). A ballet term which indicates a straight-legged kick of a stretched leg.
Ballet Jumps
September 27
Changement – (to change). springing steps in fifth position, the dancer changing feet in the air and landing in the fifth position with the opposite foot in the front.
Glissade – (to glide). A traveling step executed by gliding the working foot from the fifth position in the required direction, the other foot closing to it.
Pas de chat – (step of the cat). A light, springing step which travels in a sideways direction, taking off from one foot and landing on the other. Starting in fifth position, passe` the r leg while you plié`on the supporting leg then jump transferring the weight to the opposite side in passe`, then close fifth position.
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 pushed off the ground simultaneously in the fifth position.
Sissonne – A scissor-like movement where the dancer jumps from both feet to one.
Jete`- A jump that takes off on one leg and lands on the other. The step can travel in any direction, and can be performed as a small, spring version and a large leaping version.
Temps leve`- jumping repeatedly on the same foot.
Ballet Turns
October 4
Chaine`- (chain). A series of connected half turns in 1st position traveling to the side very quickly.
Pique` turns – A movement that calls for the dancer to quickly step out on one leg (supporting leg) on demi pointe, rotate 360 degrees, while the non-supporting leg connects at the knee in passe` position.
Soutenu turns – A movement where one leg is evenly drawn to the other with a whole turn outwards or inwards.
Pirouette – In classical ballet, a turn or series of turns traveling 360 degrees on one leg. The non-supporting leg is usually bent with the foot touching the knee of the turning leg.
A. En dehors – A movement turns or travels away from the body.
B. En dedans – A movement turns toward the body.
Ballet Direction Placement
En Face – A position in classical ballet in which the body is presented straight at the audience (facing audience).
Croise`- A position in classical ballet in which the body is presented at a sideways angle to the audience and in which the working leg crosses the line of the body (diagonal facing).
Adagio – A slow, sustained movement
Allegro – Fast, jumps performed to a quick, sharp tempo
Bourreè - A step done on the half-toe where one leg pulls the other leg to close both in a tight 5th position in a series of very small and rapid steps.
En croix – (in a cross shape). A term used to describe a movement that is done to the front, side, back and again side.
Pique`- to prick.