Ballet III Terms

Adagio

slow sustained movements

Allégro

fast and lively movements

Allongé

stretch and elongate

Arabesque

profile position on one foot with other foot extended behind

Assemblé

to assemble

Attitude

based on the statue of mercury; names after Carlos Blases; leg is lifted to a 90-degree angle

Balancé

rocking step; down up up; side back front

Balancé en tournant

balancé while turning

Balançoire

like a seesaw, swing leg back and forth through 5th position

Ballonné

to bounce with foot coming into coupé

Ballotté

to toss foot out while bouncing back and front, bringing foot into coupe

Battu

to beat

Brisé

broken

Cambré

arch side or back

Chaînés

turning in chains/links

Changé

to change feet while doing a step

Changement

to jump while changing your feet

Chassé

to chase

Contre temps

beating against time

Coupé

to cut

Danseur

a male dancer

Danseuse

a female dancer

Dégagé

to disengage

Demi plié

tiny bend

Dessus

over

Dessous

under

Devant

front

Derrière

behind

Détourné

complete turn towards the back foot

Developpé

to develop; going through passé

Echappé

to escape

Echappé battu

to escape with a beat

Emboîté

to fit together

En croix

in a cross (front, side, back, side)

En dedans

inside

En dehors

outside

En face

opposite audience

En tournant

while turning

Entrechat quatre

four weavings

Failli

give way; to step through

Fermé

closed

Fondu

to melt/sink on one foot

Fouetté

whipped

Fouetté rond de jambe en tournant

fouetté turn

Frappé

to strike

Glissade

to glide

Grand Battement

big beat

Grand Jeté

big jump

Grand Plié

big bend

Jeté

to throw

Pas de basque

step of the basque

Pas de bourrée

step of the bourrée

Dessous Pas de bourrée

back side front

Dessus Pas de bourrée

front side back

Derrière Pas de bourrée

behind side behind

Devant Pas de bourrée

front side front

Pas de chat

step of the cat

Pas de cheval

step of the horse

Pas de deux

dance for two

Passé

to pass through

Penché

to lean

Piqué

to prick; step directly on pointe

Piqué arabesque

to prick in an arabesque position

Piqué tour en dedans

normal pique turn

Piqué tour en dehors

lame duck

Pirouette en dedans

inside spin

Pirouette en dehors

outward spin

Pirouette

to whirl or spin

Port de bras

carriage of the arms

Promenade, tour de

turn in a walk

Ouverte

open

Relevé

to rise from pile

Retiré

withdrawn into a position and hold

Reverence

to curtsy

Rond de jambe

circle of the leg

Rond de jambe en dehors

outside circle of the leg

Rond de jambe à terre

on the floor circle of the leg

Rond de jambe en dedans

inside circle of the leg

Rond de jambe en l'air

in the air circle of the leg

Royale

changement battu

Saut de basque

jump of the basque

Saut de chat

jump of the cat; developpe your front leg

Sauté

to jump

Sauté arabesque

to jump while in arabesque

Serré

tight; beat the bottom of foot

Sissonne

two feet to one

Sousus

under over

Soubresaut

sudden jump

Soutenu

to sustain

Sur le cou de pied

wrapped around the neck of the foot

Temps lié

connected movement through pile

Tendu

to stretch

Tombé

to fall

Tour

turn

Tour jete/Grande jete en tournant

turning throw

Tour sauté

turn and jump

Triplet

three

Croisé

crossed

Effacé

shaded, open

Épaulé

shoulder