Ballet Terms

À la seconde ("ah la se-COND)

In second position: That is, out to the side. Also, one of the nine positions of the body in battement tendu: facing flat front, leg to the side.

À terre ("ah TAIR")

On the ground.

Adagio ("ah-DAH-joe")

Literally, "at ease." A slow tempo. Also refers to the traditional series of slow ballet moves in general, or one a slow dance in particular.

Arabesque ("ah-rah-BESK")

The position with one leg lifted behind you.

Attitude ("ah-tee-TUDE")

A position in which one leg is extended off the ground, but bent. This can be forward, to the side, or to the back.

Balancé ("bah-lahn-SAY")

The classic waltz step \--- plus turnout, of course.

Battement tendu ("bat-MAHN tahn-DUE")

A move in which one leg slides out along the floor to the front, back or side, all the way to the tip of the pointed floor, with a straight knee.

Bourré ("boo-RAY")

The traveling step: consists of about a million teeny, tiny baby steps danced in sequence, usually en pointe, to create a deceptively seamless traveling line.

Cabriole ("kah-bree-OLE")

A step in which the legs make a traveling beat at 45 degrees to the front or to the back.

Chaîné ("sheh-NAY")

A "chain" of turns repeated on two legs.

Changement de pieds ("shahnj-MAHN duh pee-AY")

Literally, "changing the feet." A jump from fifth to fifth position in which the feet switch places in midair.

Chassé ("shah-SAY")

The galloping step.

Cou-de-pied ("koo duh pee-AY)

A position in which one foot is placed in front or in the back of the other ankle.

Coupé ("koo-PAY")

A way to fake it gracefully, allowing you to look really good as you regroup and carry on.

Croisé derriére ("kwah-ZAY duh-ree-AIR")

One of the nine basic positions of the body in battement tendu: legs crossed, and tendu to the back.

Croisé devant ("kwah-ZAY duh-VAHN")

One of the nine basic positions of the body in battement tendu: legs crossed and tendu to the front.

Dégagé ("day-gah-JAY")

A battement tendu in which the foot comes off the floor to an angle of almost 45 degrees.

Demi-plié ("duh-MEE plee-AY")

Literally, "half a plié"; bend your knees as far as you can while still keeping both heels planted on the ground.

Demi pointe ("duh-MEE PWANT")

Standing on the balls of the feet.

Développé ("DAVE-low-PAY")

A gradual unfolding of the leg, extending it slowly into the air.

Écarté derriére ("ay-car-TAY duh-ree-AIR")

One of the nine basic positions of the body in battement tendu: legs not crossed, tendu to the side toward the back corner.

Écarté devant ("ay-car-TAY duh-VAHN")

One of the nine basic positions of the body in battement tendu: facing a corner; legs not crossed, tendu to the side.

Échappé ("ay-shah-PAY")

Literally, "escaped." A move in which your feet "escape" from the cramped confines of fifth position out into the wide open spaces of second.

Effacé derriére ("ef-fah-SAY duh-ree-AIR")

One of the nine basic positions of the body in battement tendu: facing a corner, the leg is in tendu back, pointing to the opposite corner.

Effacé devant ("ef-fah-SAY duh-VAHN")

One of the nine basic positions of the body in battement tendu: facing a corner, legs not crossed, with the tendu leg to the same corner.

En arriére ("ahn ar-YAIR")

To the back.

En croix ("ahn KWAH")

Literally, "in a cross." Performing a move in a pattern that imitates the shape of a cross, as drawn by, say, Hobbits.

En dedans ("ahn duh-DAHN")

To the inside.

En dehors ("ahn duh-OR")

To the outside.

En l'air ("ahn LAIR")

In the air.

En pointe ("ahn PWANT")

Literally, "on point." Balancing on the tips of a few toes, in specially designed pointe shoes.

Entrechat ("ahn-truh-SHAH")

A jump straight up, in which the legs beat, the feet going in front of or behind each other. The word entrechat is usually followed by a French number: entrechat trios ("ahn-truh-SHAH TWAH"), entrechat quatre, entrechat cinq, entrechat six, entrechat sept, entrechat huit \--- to indicate how many times the legs go back and forth.

Fermé (e) ("fair-MAY")

Closed.

Fondu ("fon-DUE")

A one-legged knee bend.

Fouetté turn ("foo-et-TAY")

Literally, "whipped." A move where the ballerina executes multiple turns on one leg; she raises and lowers herself on that leg while simultaneously whipping the other leg around and around.

Frappe ("frah-PAY")

Literally, "stuck." Striking the floor with the foot.

Glissade ("glee-SAHD")

The gliding step, crab-like.

Grand allegro ("GRAHND a-LEG-row")

The traditional set of big jumps across the floor.

Grand battement ("GRAHN bat-MAHN")

A high kick, Rockette style.

Grand échapé ("GRAHN an- shah-PAY")

Literally the " great escape." A pair of jumps that involve changing the position of the feet.

Grand jeté ("GRAHN juh- TAY")

A forward jump with a split.

Grand plié ("GRAHN plee-AY)

A big knee bend, in which the heels are allowed to come off the floor.

Grand saut de chat ("GRAHN SOH deh SHAH")

A jump in which the front leg begins bent and ends straight, in a split position in the air.

Ouvert(e) ("oo-VAYRT")

open.

Pas ("PAH")

Step.

Pas assemblé ("PAH ah-sahm-BLAY")

Literally "assembled step." Brushing and joining the feet in the air.

Pas de basque ("PAH duh BAHSK")

Traveling to the side and forward.

Pas de bourrée (" PAH duh boo-RAY")

The traditional ethnic Grapevine, danced ballet-style.

Pas de chat ("PAH duh SHAH")

The cat step.

Pas de cheval ("PAH duh shuh-VAHL")

The horse step.

Pas de couru ("pah duh koo-RUE")

The running step.

Pas de deux

Literally, "step for two." A dance for two dancers.

Pas de trios ("pah duh TWAH")

Literally, "step for three." A dance, or set of dances, for three people together.

Pas jeté ("pah juh-TAY")

Brushing the foot, drawing a "4" in the air, and landing on one leg.

Petit allegro ("puh-TEET a-LEG-row")

Small jumps.

Petits battements ("pah juh-TAY")

Little beats of the leg.

Petit échappé ("puh-TEET ay-shah-PAY")

changing the feet during a jump, from fifth position to second position and back again.

Piqué ("pee-KAY")

Literally, "stung." A move where the ballerina carefully plants one straight leg with a pointed foot on the ground and transfers her weight to that foot.

Pirouette (" pee-roo-ET")

A turn.

Port de bras ("POR duh BRAH")

Literally, "carriage of the arms." A broad arm movement from one position to another, often accompanied by a movement of the upper body.

Quatriéme derrière ("kah-tree-Em duh-ree-AIR)

One of the nine basic positions of the body in batement tendu:facing front, one leg in tendu back.

Quatrième devant ("kah-tree-EM duh-VAHN")

One of the nine basic positions of the body in batement tendu: facing front, with the tendu leg in front.

Relevè ("ruh-luh-VAY")

Literally, "raised up again": A rise to the ball of the feet. Known in workout circles as a "calf raise." Can be done with straight knees or with a demi-pliè.

Retirè ("ruh-tee-RAY")

A move where one pointed foot is lifted and placed by the other knee (strongly resembles "4").

Rond de jambe ("Ron duh JAHMB")

Literally, "round of the leg." A half circle drawn with the foot.

Royale ("roy-AHL")

A jump straight up into the air from fifth to fifth position, beating and changing the legs once.

Sautè ("soh-TAY")

A small jump on two legs, landing on both legs.

Sissone ("see-SONE")

A jump from two legs onto one leg.

Sissone fermè ("see-SONE fair-MAY")

A sissone, immediately closing the raised leg in to fifth position.

Sissone ouvert ("see-SONE oo-VAYRT")

A sissone, leaving the raised leg up for a moment before closing it.

Soubresaut ("soo-bruh-SOH")

A simple jump in fifth position; or a simple lift, straight up and down.

Sous-sus ("soo-SUE")

A position in which both feet slide together to meet, one directly behind the other. In this position, seen from the front, you appear to have one foot with two heels.

Soutenu en tournant ("soo-tuh-NUE ahn toor-NAHN")

A turn on two legs.

Sur le cou-de-pied ("seur luh KOO duh peeAY")

Literally, "on the neck of the foot." Specifically, one foot is wrapped about the other leg where the calf muscle lowers towards the heel.

Temps leve ("tahn luv-VAY")

Jumping repeatedly on the same foot.