Dance vocabulary

Contraction

Tightening the abdominals, tucking the pelvis, forming a "C" with the torso so shoulders are over the pelvis.

Pivot Step

A step forward (or in any direction) with a pivot right after.

Fan kick

A high straight leg kick; the gesture leg makes a swooping circular arc across the front of the body.

Forced arch

Weight-bearing foot position. Heel lifted, knee bent with extreme metatarsal dorsiflexion.

Isolations

Moving one body part (head, shoulder, ribs, hips) while the rest stay immobile.

Ball Change

Change of weight between both feet. Change weight and do a stamp-stamp.

Chassé

Basic ballet traveling step, like a gallop; one foot chases the other

Jazz Walk

A low‑gravity type of walk where the body is in plié and the shoulders and arms are curved in opposition while walking forward. This is without a hip roll. The Hip walk is the same but with a hip roll.

Plié

A knee bend with careful alignment of the knees and torso

Pirouette

Turn on one leg that begins in plié and goes to relieve from a plié.

Relevé

A lift onto the toes

Passé

Position in which the toe of one leg touches the knee of the standing leg.

Working leg

The non‑load bearing leg.

Spotting

Focusing on one spot while turning to prevent dizziness

Battement

Movement in which the foot is extended in any direction usually followed by a beat against the supporting foot

Grand Jeté

a large jeté

Jeté

leap in which the weight of the dancer is transferred from one foot to the other. The dancer “throws” one leg to the front, side, or back and holds the other leg in any desired position upon landing

Choreographer

An individual who creates dances using choreography. Making a dance into a piece

Choreography

A dance composition

Pencil Turn

This is a turn on both feet where the body is straight including legs and arms

Pas de bourrée

A step where the weight is transferred quickly from one foot to the other. Consists of 3 steps

Adagio

slowly, unfolding movements

Allegro

Meaning brisk, lively. A term applied to all bright, fast, or brisk movements

Arabesque

The position of the body supported on one leg, with the other leg extended behind the body with the knee straight

Assemblé

Literally "assembled". A jump which is launched from one foot and landed on both feet

Attitude

A position in which the dancer stands on one leg (known as the supporting leg) while the other leg (working leg) is lifted and well turned out with the knee bent

Balancé

Executed in three counts, a waltz like step

Changement

To change once

Coupé

means to cut

Degagé

To disengage

Demi

Meaning half

Développé

To develop

Fondu

melted

Fouetté

whipped

Glissade

to glide

Port de bras

carriage of the arms

Rond de jambe

circle of the leg

Tendu

stretched

Piqué

Pricked