Classical Ballet Terms!

Plié

means “to bend”

• There’s demi plié (heels stay on ground) & grand plié (full bend, heels off ground)

Tendu

means “stretched”

First Position

feet turned out

Second Position

tendu & then let that stretched foot rest on ground (& shift weight)

Third Position

heel of front foot rests in the arch/instep (middle) of back foot.

Fourth Position

same as third but push front foot further out.

Fifth Position

aligning front turned out foot with back big toe.

demi plié

half bend

All 5 positions w/ arms!

en avant

refers to the movement forward

ex:

devant

refers to the position of a leg or foot to the front

(note difference with en avant)

à la seconde

to the side

glissade

to glide

• starts in 5th position

Chassé

“to chase”

• can look like the image attached, or can be sideways

• usually follows a move, hit back, move pattern.

Rond de jambe

• rond = round

• “round/circular movement of the leg”

À terre

“on the ground/floor”

relevé

to raise

temps lié (tahn lee-aye)

• connected movement with tendu, center, and tendu-close

bras bas

arms down/low

Derriere

position of foot/leg behind or back

Battement

means “beating” (can be grand or petit)

• any movement where one leg strikes, taps, brushes, or opens and closes rapidly against or away from the other leg.