Ballet Terms

barre

translates to rod

plié

to bend (the knees)

demi plié

half plié (half bend)

grand plié

extended plié (full bend)

relevé

to rise (on toes, pointe)

tendu

to stretch (leg out/extended, toes pointed on floor)

ouvert

open (4th position, heel in front of heel)

fermé

closed (4th position, heel in front of toe)

en croix

the cross

devant

forward (placement of leg)

derriére

behind (placement of leg)

de coté

side to side (placement of leg)

á la seconde

to 2nd (position) or to the side

en haut

on high (height of arm)

en avant

in front (height of arm)

en bas

on low (height of arm)

croise

crossed (front foot crossed over other leg or body)

efface

shaded (arm above head, "shading" face)

accents

in, out, up, down, front, back, even

out accent

foot out as long as possible and in as quick as possible

even accent

just as much time to go in and out

battement

beating/battlement

degagé

disengage

jeté

throw

rond de jambe

circle/round of leg

en de hors

outward

en de dans

inward

á terre

on the ground (height of foot)

en l'air

in the air (height of foot)

temps lié

connected movements

cloche

to swing like a bell (down accent)

pique

to prick (up accent)

frappe

to strike

coup de pied

neck of the foot (ankle)

epaulement

shouldering, carriage of the head and shoulders

2-2

sauté - to jump

2-1

sissone

1-2

assemblé - joined together/assembled

1-other

jeté - throw

1-same

temps levé - rising time

pas de cheval

step of the horse

coupé

to cut

cambré

to arch

sous-sous

over-under

fondu

to melt

arabesque

stand on one leg, other leg straight behind off the floor

tire bouchun

corkscrew

passé

to pass

retiré

withdraw, retire, pause