Dance Terminology 1-3

Plié

Bending of the knee or knees.

Relevé

raised. A raising of the body on the points or demi pointes from bend knees.

Tendu

stretched.

Port de bras

carriage of the arms.

Chassé

chased. A step in which one foot literally chases the other foot out of its position; done in a series.

Pirouette

a whirl or spin. A complete turn of the body on one foot, on point or demi-pointe.

Arabesque

a position in ballet where the body is supported on a single leg, while the other leg is extended directly behind the body with a straight knee. They can also be done at different heights or with a straight leg or in plie.

Spotting

a movement of the head and focusing of the eyes in pirouettes.

Grand Jeté

large jeté. A high jump.

Attitude

A position where the dancer stands on one leg with the other lifted, either in the front, or back. The leg that is in the air is usually slightly bent at the knee, creating an approximate 145-degree angle.

Coupe

cut, cutting.

Demi

half.

Derriére

behind, back.

Devant

in front.

Eleve

rising straight up onto the balls of the feet or the tip of the toes from a straight leg position, without first bending the keens.

Grand

Big, large.

Pas de bourrée

bourree steps.

Petite

little, small.

Rond de jambe

bourrée step.

Avant

To the front, forward.

Chainés

chains, links.  A series of rapid turns on the points or demi pointes.

Developpé

a movement in which the working leg is drawn up to the knee of the supporting leg and slowly extend to an open position.

Fondu

sinking down.

Passé

the working leg is turned out bent with the toes touching the supporting leg.

Penché

leaning, inclining.

Barre

The introductory/warm up portion of the ballet class, conducted while holding onto the ballet bar.

Body roll

A rolling movement through the body.

Bridge

Arched like a bridge, also called a backbend.

Fan Kick

A high straight leg kick in which the gesture leg makes a swooping circular arc across the body.

Flat Back

Position in which the legs are in parallel, the back is kept flat, parallel to the floor, with the torso hinged at the hips.