Beginner's Ballet

Some vocab and images to help you practice and remember the different positions and movements.

First Position

1. Heels together, toes facing outward

2. Hands meet outstretched directly in front of the sternum

Second Position

1. Feet are hips width apart toes facing outward

2. Arms are the same height as in 1st, but diagonally in front of the shoulders

Fourth Position

1. Feet are a foot’s distance apart, with the right heel in line with the left toe and vice versa

2. Right arm stays in 1st position, left arm goes above the head, but still in peripheral view

Fifth Position

1. Feet are together, with the right heel in line with the left toe and vice versa

2. Both arms go above the head, still in peripheral view

Demi Plie

1. Plie = to bend — Demi = small

2. Regardless of position, knees bend until squarely over the toes, with the back staying straight

Grand Plie

1. Plie = to bend — Grand = big

2. For all positions EXCEPT 2nd, knees bend until heels come off the floor and the body is to the ground, with the knees pushing/rotating outward and the back straight

3. 2nd position, the heels STAY on the ground and the knees bend as deep as the body allows, with the knees pushing/rotating outward

Port de Bras Devant

1. Port de Bras = carriage of the arms — Devant = front

2. Any position, lifting up and hinging at the hips to bend forward and stretch the hamstrings

Cambré de Coté

1. Cambré = arched — Coté = side

2. All positions, lifting up and hinging at the hips, bend to either side, with the feet firmly planted in position, to stretch the obliques

Cambré de Derriere

1. Cambré = arched — Derriere = behind

2. All positions, lifting up and hinging at the hips, bend backwards to stretch the abdomen and back

Coupé Devant

1. Coupé = to cut — Devant = front

2. Coming from 5th position on the right, quickly bringing the pointed right foot up in front of the ankle, the pinkie toe should be lightly kissing the top of the ankle bone

Coupé Derriere

1. Coupé = to cut — Derriere = behind

2. Coming from 5th position on the left, quickly bringing the pointed right foot up behind the ankle, the right heel should be lightly kissing the top of the ankle bone.

Sur Cou-de-Pied

1. Sur = on — Cou-de-Pied = neck of the foot

2. From 5th position on the right, sliding the pointed right foot up the front of the leg, wrapping the foot around the ankle the heel resting on the front of the ankle and the toes reaching backwards