Jazz Terms

Projection

The communication of a vivid image to the audience through attitude, eye contact, facial expression, and full body commitment to the movement.

Dynamics

how a movement is performed: the intensity of its energy and the dynamic qualities of its prformance

Demi Plie

half bend

Grand plie

lage bend

Tendu

to stretch

Devant

to the front

Derriere

to the back

A la seconde

to the side

Degage

to disengage

rond de jambe

Circle of the leg

grand battement

large beating or kick

coupe

to cut

passe

to pass

Fondu

to melt

developpe

to unfold

releve

to rise from bent legs

eleve

to elevate from straight legs

port de bras

carriage of the arms

Arabesque

a position where the leg is extended straight behind

attitude

a position where the leg is raised and bent at the knee

Pirouette

a tirn or whirl

Pique

to prick

soutenu

to sustain

saute

to jump

jete

to throw

pas de bouree

little steps

Chasse

to chase

Tombe

to fall

changement

to change

chaine

chain of steps

Isolations

isolating one body part at a time

Drag

step up to a pique position, dragging the straight leg along the floor

Contraction

drawing or shortening parts of a “c” curve with the torso

Pivot

a swivel movement performed on two feet

fan kick

sweeping the leg in an arc through space

hinge

alignment from the hips to body tilting backwards in 2nd position

Release

to go from a position of tension to a melt or sustain

Tilt

high developpe in a second position with the body tilting the opposite direction

ball change

changing weight from onel eg to the other, rock step

Pencil turn

turn on one leg with th eother leg straight, resembling a pencil