EOC Ballet Vocabulary

Study guide for EOC in May

Plié

To bend; bending of the knees.

Demi

Half.

Grand

Big; large.

Tendu

To stretch; a brush through the floor passing through the metatarsal, with the tip of the toe remaining on the floor.

Temps lié

Connected movement.

En croix

Performed in the shape of a cross; the same movement is done consecutively to the front, side, back, and again to the side.

Devant

To the front.

Derrière

To the back.

À la seconde

To the second position.

Cloché

To beat like a bell; the leg is extended front or back and passes through the first position in the opposite direction.

Degagé

To disconnect or disengage; a quick brush off the floor, with an extended leg and toes slightly lifted.

Piqué

To prick; pricking.

Pas de cheval

Step of the horse.

Frappé

Strike of the foot.

Petit battement

Little beats; small beating action of the foot or leg.

Rond de jambe

Circle of the leg; an exercise that describes a series of circular movements on the ground with straight legs, originating from the hip.

En dehor

Outward; towards the outside, moving clockwise.

En dedan

Inward; towards the inside, moving counterclockwise.

Développé

To develop; to lift the leg through passe and extend it in the air.

Attitude

A pose on one leg with the other lifted to the front, side, or back, with the knee bent.

Cou de pied

The neck of the foot; working foot placed on the ankle of the supporting leg.

Coupé

To cut or cutting; moving the foot to the ankle of the supporting leg.

Grand battement

Big beats; big kick.

Passé

To pass; one foot passes the knee of the supporting leg.

Échappé

To escape; a movement to open position, done in relevé or sauté (jumped).

Sauté

Jumped or jumping; movement performed while jumping.

Changement

Changing; a jump where the feet change while in the air.

Entrechat quatre

Four crossings.

Jeté

To throw; a jump from one foot to the other where the working leg appears to be thrown into the air.

Pas de chat

Step of the cat.

Pirouette

Whirl or spin; a complete turn of the body on one foot.

Bourrée

Traveling combination where feet are in fifth position relevé.

Soutenu

A sustained turn where the legs unwind.

Pas de basque

Step of the Basque; a traveling step that can slide on the floor or be jumped.

Glissade

To glide; a traveling step where the working foot glides from fifth position in the desired direction, with the other foot closing to it.

Assemblé

Assembled; joined together in the air.

Sissone

A jump from both feet to one foot.

Piqué en tournant

Piqué turning; stepping directly onto the point or demi-pointe with the other leg raised.

Tour Jeté

Large leap executed with a turn.

Relevé

To rise; a motion onto the ball of the foot or metatarsal from a bent leg or plié.

Balancé

To rock; a rocking step done close to the floor, transferring weight from one foot to the other.

Chaine

A series of traveling turns that create a chain of movement.

En avant

Traveling forward.

Tombé

To fall; a preparatory movement where the body falls forward, sideways, or backward into a demi-plié on one leg.

Pas de bourrée

Weaving step; typically involves three steps or weight transfers in a simple weaving action.

Saut de chat

Jump of the cat; a split in the air where the front leg opens through développé.

Turn-out

Outward rotation of the hips.

Preparation

To prepare a movement of a dance or turn.

Retiré

Tip of the toe pointing to the knee, pushing the knee back.

En arrière

Traveling backward.