Dance 1: Ballet Unit Assessment Study Guide

Balancé

To rock

Cambré

Bend or circle of the waist

Chaîné en tournant

A series of consecutive half-turns in relevé

Changement

A jump that changes feet in the air

Chassé

to chase

Demi Plié

Proper technique involves keeping knees over the toes

En Croix

A foot pattern in the shape of a cross

Format of a ballet class

Barre, center, across the floor, révérance

Glissade

A leap that travels with a gliding action

Jeté

A leap that throws the working leg

Pas de Bourrée

Transition of the feet (back, side, front)

Pas de Chat

A leap that resembles a cat like action

Plié

To bend

Port de bras

Carriage of the arms

Romantic ballet era characteristics

Pas de deux, fairy-tale theme, long flowing tutus

Rond de jambe

Circle of the leg

Royale

A jump created by King Louis XIV (Sun King)

Tombé

To fall

Turnout

Originates from the hips

Tendu

To stretch

The foot slides along the floor to any open position. The knee remains straight as the leg is fully stretched enough so that the heel of the working leg raises off the floor, but the toes remain in contact with the floor. This ballet barre exercise is used to articulate the foot

Dégagé

To disengage

An exercise where the pointed foot brushes off the floor into any direction and is returned to the closed position. The tempo of the dégagé determines the height of leg. This strong, energetic brush is a preparatory step for petit allegro work.

Grand Battement

Large thrown movement

This refers to energetically lifting the working leg from fifth through tendu and dégagé to at least a ninety-degree angle and controlling the descent

Spotting

A technique to lessen dizziness while turning. The dancer’s gaze is focused on a fixed spot. As the body begins to revolve, the head whips around to refocus on the fixed spot. The head is last to leave and first to arrive in this technique giving the impression that the dancer is always facing forward.

Ballet Barre Procedures

Preparation before each exercise with port de bras from fifth en bas (low) to fifth en avant (middle) and opening to seconde (side) with a quarter head rotation over right

shoulder and left hand on ballet barre.

• Finishing pose with feet in last working position, arms fifth en bas, and head looking over outside shoulder.

• Turn towards the barre after completing each side of the exercise.

• Always begin each exercise with the left hand on the barre to use the right side of the body and then repeat the exercise on the left.