Ballet Coursework: Cecchetti Method

Positions

1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th

Plié

“to bend.” Variations are demi plié and grande plié

Releve

“to rise”

Port de Bras

a graceful carriage, changing positions of the arms

Tendu

“to stretch.” Extending a pointed foot forward, sideward, or backward

Soussus

tight 5th position in releve

Degage

“to disengage.” to move the foot from a closed position to an open one

Rond de Jambe

circling of the leg; a movement that calls for the dancer to move the leg in a circle; this can be done on the floor (à terre), or off the floor (en l‘air) at 45°, 90°, or 120° and either outward (en dehors) or inward (en dedans)

À terre

on the ground

En l’air

in the air

En dehors

outward

En dedans

inward

Coupe

“to cut”

Passe

“to pass.” A position and/or movement that requires the working leg to have its foot pointed to the side of the supporting leg’s knee

Retire

withdrawn. A position in which the thigh is raised to the second position en l’air with the knee bent so that the pointed toe rests in front of, behind, or the side of the supporting knee

Pique

“to prick.” A movement that calls for the dancer to quickly step out on one leg to the half-toe position

Arabesque

a position in which one leg extends behind the body at 45 degree angle or higher

Attitude

a position on one leg with the other lifted, the knee bent at an angle of 90 degrees and well turned out so that the knee is higher than the foot. (Can be performed front, side, or back)

Developpe

is a movement in which the working leg is drawn up to the knee of the supporting leg and slowly extended to an open position en l’air and held there with perfect control

Frappe

“to strike”

Petite battement

small movement of the leg

Fondu

“to melt.” a movement that calls for the dancer to stand on one foot, bending and extending both legs at the same time

Grand Battement

large movement of the leg

En croix

to complete an exercise to the front, side, back, and side

Grande

big

Petite

small

Adagio

a slow, sustained type of movement

Chaine

“to chain.” a series of connected movements. Chaine turns: make halt-turns in 1st position traveling to the side very quickly

Assemble

“to join together.” a jump in which the legs come together upon landing or in the air

Jete

“to throw.” a sharp movement that either describes a throw of the leg or a jump from one foot or the other in which the working leg is brushed into the air and appears to have been thrown

Saute

jumped. jumping

Changement

to change. feet changing 5th positions

Royale

a changement in which the calves are beaten together before the feet change position

Pas de bourree

“to hustle.” a step where the weight is transferred quickly from one foot to the other

Pas de chat

step of the cat

Derriere

behind

Devant

in front

Glissade

“to slide”

Failli

to nearly fall. a movement that has the body supported on one leg, lean off-balance, then quickly pass the other leg in a given direction and catch the fall

Echappe

“to escape.” it is a level opening of both feet from a closed position to an open position. can also be executed as echappe sauté, which is done with a spring from 5th position and finishes in demi plié in the open position

Pirouette

turn on one leg

Balance

“to swing; to rock.” a swinging 3-step movement

Tombe

“to fall.” a movement that requires the dance to fall with all the weight of the body onto the other leg

Temps lie

connected movement. composed of a series of steps and arm movements based on the fourth, fifth, and second positions

Soutenu

sustained