BALLET TERMINOLOGY
AdagioSlow, sustained movement
ArabesqueThe position of the body when supported on one leg with the other extended to the back with the knee straight.
AssembléTo assemble. A jump beginning with a degagé with one leg, jumping into the air as both legs come together or assemble, and landing on both feet at the same time.
AttitudeThe position of the body when supported on one leg with the other lifted to the front, the side, or the back, with the knee bent.
Avant, enTraveling forward
BarreThe long, pipe-shaped bar that dancers hold onto for support when warming up. The word is also used to refer to the set of exercises performed at the barre at the beginning of every class.
Bas, enLow
BeatTo hit the legs together, moving them in and out of 5th position in the air so that they appear to crisscross.
Chaîné toursFast, small, linked turns
ChangementA jump that begins with one foot in front in 5th or 3rd position, and ends with the other foot in front (from “changé,” meaning changed.)
ChasséTo chase.
Cloche, enLike a bell.
Cou-de-pied, sur leOn the “neck" (cou) of the ankle. The position of the working foot when lifted and pointed in front, in back of, or wrapped around the ankle of the supporting leg.
CoupéTo cut.
CroiséCrossed. Two of the eight body positions, done either to the front (devant) or back (derrièr).
Croix, enIn the shape of a cross.
Dedans, enInward
Dégagé, battementThe extension of the leg to the front, side, or back, in which the knee remains straight, the foot passes through the ball of the foot and then to the point, and the toe disengages slightly from the floor.
Dehors, enOutward
Demi-pointeThe position of the foot when the heel is raised from the floor and the dancer is poised on the ball of the foot. The term is often used synonymously with the term “relevé” or “half toe.”
DerrièreTo the back.
DevantTo the front.
DeveloppéThe movement of drawing the foot up the leg through the cou-de-pied position, through the retieré position, and continuing to develop the extention to the full front, side, or back position.
DownstageTo the front of the stage near the audience.
ÈcartéOne of the eight body positions, in which the dancer’s legs are in 2nd position with the body placed diagonally.
EffacéOne of the eight body positions, in which the dancer’s legs appear open, as opposed to crossed.
ElevéA rise on to demí-pointe, that is not preceded by a plié.
EmboitéA jump that alternates legs.
Épaulé“Shouldered.” One of the eight body positions. The dancer stands with foot extended to the back (not in a crossed position). The torso is twisted to reveal the back to the audience. Also known as “effacé derrière.”
Face, enOne of the eight body positions, in which the dancers body faces directly front.
FerméeClosed, as in sissonne fermée (a jump which is begun taking off from two feet, landing on one foot, and immediately closing the second foot).
FonduMelted.
Fouetté“Whipped.” A turn in which a whipping motion of the working leg makes the body go round.
Frappé, battementThe extension of the leg to the front, side, or back, in which foot begins held flexed on the ankle or in the cou-de- pied position, the ball of the foot strikes or brushes the floor, finishing extended with the knee straight and the toe slightly disengaged from the floor. Can be done with beats (double or triple frappé).
GlissadeTo glide. Gliding steps that are usually used to link other steps, can be done in any direction, and can be done with or without a change of feet.
GrandBig
Haut, enHigh
JetéA jump in which one leg brushes out, the other leg initiates the jump into the air, and the landing is on the first leg.
L’air, enIn the air
LungeA wide-open (i.e. legs apart) stance on two feet in 4th position, in which one leg (usually the front) is bent and the other straight. It is often used as a preparatory position for pirouettes.
OuvertOpen, as in sissonne ouvert (a jump which is begun taking off from two feet, landing on one foot with the other leg held aloft).
Parallel positionNot turned-out; usually used to refer to 6th position, in which both feet are placed together facing straight front, parallel to each other.
PasA step
Pas de bourréeA series of three small steps, usually done with the first two on toe or demi pointe, and the 3rd one in plié. Can be done back, side, front (under), front, side, back (over), or turning.
Pas de chatStep of the cat.
Pas de chevalStep of the pony.
PasséA movement of the working leg, past the supporting leg from one position to another.
Penché“Leaning.” An extreme arabesque in which the body stays lifted and extended, but the back leg goes up and out as far as possible bringing the arms to almost touch the ground.
PetitSmall
Petit battement“Little Beat.” The working leg stars sur le cou-de-pied and beats front to back repeatedly.
PiquéLiterally, “pricked.” Adjective describing a movement in which the dancer transfers the body weight from on leg (in plié) to the other by stepping out directly onto pointe or demi pointe with a straight leg.
PirouetteA turn on one leg.
Plié, demiA bending of the knees in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, or 5th position keeping the heels pressed into the floor.
Plié, grandA bending of the knees until the hips are as low as the knees in 1st, 3rd, 4th, or 5th position, allowing the heels to release from the floor, but not pressed up into a forced relevé position. In 2nd position the heels, do not release from the floor. In 3rd and 5th position the heels of both feet stay in contact with each other.
Port de brasMovements or carriage of the arms.
PromenadeA slow rotation of the body in adagio exercises, in which the dancer, maintaining a pose on one leg with the other raised off the ground, executes many little pivots of the supporting heel in order to turn the body around on the whole foot.
Quatrième, à laIn the 4th position.
RelevéDescribes a position of the supporting foot in which the heel has been raised from the floor, and the dancer is balanced on the ball of the foot (or on the toes, in en pointe). Also, the combination of a demi-plié followed by the raising of the heel(s) from the floor.
RetiréThe action of drawing the working leg, with knee bent, up alongside the supporting leg and returning it down to the position from which it began, or the position with the working leg bent, foot touching the supporting leg.
Rond de jambeCircle of the leg. There are three general types in two directions: à terre, en l’air, and grand en l’air, done either en dedans (inward) or en dehors (outward).
SautéJump
Seconde, à laIn the 2nd position.
Sissonne[Named for its inventor]. A basic sissonne is a jump from two feet into a scissor action jump into the air, landing one foot at a time.
Sous-sus["under-over"] (or sus-sous ["over-under"]). A relevé in a tight fifth position with one foot almost on top of the other.
Soutenu“Sustained.” Performed smoothly and slowly as a crossed leg turn up onto pointe or demi- pointe.
SpottingThe technique of turning the head during pirouettes or other turns to prevent dizziness. When spotting, a dancer quickly whips the head around and refocuses the eyes with each turn of the body.
Supporting legThe leg that is supporting the weight of the body.
Temps levé[Raised movement]. The very simplest jump from one foot onto the same foot with the other foot raised.
Tendu, battement[Stretched] The extension of the leg out to the front, side, or back, in which the knee remains straight, the toe remains in contact with the floor.
Terre, àOn or along the floor.
TombéTo fall.
TourTurn
Transfer of weightTo shift weight from one foot onto the other.
Travesti, en[In disguise]. A female dancer performing a male role in a man’s costume, or a male dancer performing a female role in a woman’s costume.
Turn-outRotation of the legs outward from the hip joints so that the kneecaps and toes face outward (always in the same direction). All traditional movements in classical ballet are performed turned-out.
UpstageTo the back of the stage awayfrom the audience.
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