Term
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Definition
| the action of lowering the heels to the floor with a straight leg(s) |
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Term
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Definition
| in class this term applies to a series of slow, sustained exercise movements designed to develop grace, sense of line and balance. On stage this refers to the first part of a classical pas de duex danced by the ballerina and her partner. |
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Term
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Definition
| any movement performed in or through second position |
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Definition
| a series of light brisk movements with a fast tempo such as jumps, leaps, turns, and/or turning jumps |
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Term
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Definition
| the complete control of the body and feet in a vertical plane during all movements--the ability to hold oneself in balance. |
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Term
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Definition
a traditional ballet pose in which the dancer stands on one leg with the other extended fourth derriere. Extended port de bras may vary as follows:
first-the opposite arm is forward from the leg raised in back.
second-the same arm is forward as the leg raised in back |
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Term
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Definition
| the person responsible for the company and all elements relating to a performance. After he or she has collaborated with experts relating to a performance. |
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Term
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Definition
assembled. Any jump springing from one foot and landing on two feet.
petit assemble simply springs from one foot and assembles the two feet together at least by the time they reach the floor.
a jump in which one foot brushes out with a battement degage, springs from the standing leg and then both legs join before descending and landing in fifth position. |
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Term
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Definition
this adjective describes movement or steps which do not require jumping--those performed on the floor, as opposed to "in the air" (en l'air)
it can also modify a pose wherein the leg which is ordinarily lifted, remains on the floor. |
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Term
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Definition
| a position wherein one leg is raised with the knee bent, either fourth devant, a la seconde, or fourth derriere |
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Term
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Definition
a rocked step which is usually performed in 3/4 time with the foot pattern to the side, back and then front.
Tombe style: this version prepares from fifth position en rise, opens on leg to a tombe, the other leg piques under the balance line, and follows with a coupe
Jete style: this version prepares from demi-plie with the first movement being a degage, then traveling to a tombe, the other leg piques under the balance line, and follows with a coupe |
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Term
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Definition
| the principle female dancer in a ballet company. in a company of several ballerinas, the star is usually classified as the prima ballerina. The highest post, one that is rarely granted, is prima ballerina assoluta, awarded to such dancers as Evdokimova, Fonteyn, Makarova, Plisetskaya and Ulanova |
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Term
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Definition
| from Italian ballare--to dance. An artistic form of theatrical dance with a tradition of classical technique, expressing a dramatic or abstract idea in conjunction with music, drama, art and literature |
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Term
| ballet master or mistress, aka Maire or Maitresse de Ballet |
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Definition
| the title to designate the person in a ballet company responsible for the training of the dancers and the conducting of rehearsals |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| an enthusiastic ballet fan |
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Term
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Definition
the ability of a dancer to appear to remain elevated during a jump
also the elasticity in jumping and landing |
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Term
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Definition
| a hand-rail which is intended to aid the dancers balance during exercises |
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Term
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Definition
| the basic action of the leg opening and closing, returning with a beat. There are many varieties of battement. |
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Term
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Definition
| the gesture foot is fully pointed, rapidly beating against the supporting leg in any o fth ethree cou-de-pied positions or under the releve supporting arch |
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Term
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Definition
| disengaged, a brush which extends the leg with pointed toes so that the toes are approximately two inches off the floor |
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Term
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Definition
| glided, a brush which extends the leg with pointed toes so that the toes are approximately two inches off the floor |
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Term
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Definition
| thrown, a brush which extends the leg with pointed toes so that the toes are approximately two inches off the floor |
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Term
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Definition
| the gradual unfolding of the leg from fifth position through cou-de-pied, to passe, to an attitude position and finally to the full extension. The leg remains extended during the controlled lowering to the close |
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Term
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Definition
| this movement is similar to the swinging of a bell. it is a battement with either an attitude or an extended leg, executed from devant, through first position to derriere and in reverse |
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Term
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Definition
| enveloped. the opposite of developpe wherein one leg opens with a battement lent, folds to passe, and then traces down the supporting leg to close in fifth position |
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Term
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Definition
| melted. the action of both legs bending simultaneously, where one foot places in cou-de-pied or coupe position, followed by both legs extending simultaneously. the working leg may extend a terre or en l'air in varying degrees in either fourth or second position. |
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Term
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Definition
| struck. the working leg begins in cou-de-pied position, the ball of the foot brushes out to a pointed position with the knee extended and then the foot and leg return to the closed position. This can be performed with a double beat as well as a single and will vary according to method |
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Term
grand battement or
grand battement jete |
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Definition
| one leg throws off the floor as high as possible, extending through the tendu then controlling the return to a closed position |
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Term
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Definition
| the working leg beats with a slight opening toward second from cou-de-pied devant or basic cou-de-pied, to the derriere, and vice versa, keeping the thigh and knee still in a turned-out position. It can be accented as single, double, triple or in a continuous series |
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Term
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Definition
| a very slow grand battement |
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Term
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Definition
| serrated or jagged. a battement tendu or degage, which could be performed in plie during the opening of the working leg, that extends the supporting leg and/or eleves the supporting heel during the close |
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Term
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Definition
| the working leg extends and the foot brushes out with the tip of the toes remaining in contact with the floor followed by a closing to the supporting leg in either first, third or fifth position |
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Term
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Definition
| this movement consists of small quick steps performed in a releve fifth position |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| a group of exercises and combinations performed away from the barre |
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Term
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Definition
| continuous turns performed by stepping from the pointe or demi-pointe of one foot to the other, in equal time with both legs straight, like the pattern of identical links in a chain |
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Term
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Definition
| indicating that the movement changes the front foot to the other |
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Term
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Definition
| a jump changing feet from devant or derriere on each return to the floor. this step springs from two feet third or fifth position and lands on two feet third or fifth position changing the feet |
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Term
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Definition
a study of a special technique in the art of ballet which enables the dancer to perform outside the classical relm. The rhythms and movements resembling ethnic dances of various nations are studied and displayed. this special technique is not to be confused with authentic ethnographic dance.
more specifically, a dance founded on any traditional national dance form |
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Term
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Definition
| a connective step of elevation with one foot chasing the other. it can begin with either a glisse or a tombe, then squeezes to a soubresaut and ends with coupe |
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Term
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Definition
| a composer of dances and ballets |
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Term
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Definition
the art of composing or combining dances to form a ballet
all dances in a ballet or other dance production |
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Term
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Definition
| the ensemble or the group of dancers (non soloists) in a ballet company |
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Term
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Definition
the position of one foot placed on the neck of the other foot--the ankle
devant: the outside surface of the little toe places on the large ankle bone of the outwardly rotated supporting leg
derriere: the inside surface or the back of the heel places just below the outside of the calf on the outwardly rotated supporting leg
basic: the working foot wraps around the achilles tendon of the supporting leg in a beveled point. See also sur le cou-de-pied |
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Term
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Definition
a step transferring the weight from one foot to the other without shifting balance. one foot cuts the other away or replaces it.
some teachers also use it as a position with the pointed foot placed where it cuts the ankle, mid shin or mid calf of the supporting leg |
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Term
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Definition
running
any runs
continuous bourrees in a neutral position with the knees slightly bent |
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Term
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Definition
| a body direction in a diagonal fourth or fifth position with the legs always crossed. the right leg is in front when facing the left corner, and vice versa. |
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Term
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Definition
a male dancer in a balle company
danseur noble is a classical male dancer
premiere danseur is the lead male dancer |
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Term
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Definition
| a female dancer in a company |
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Term
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Definition
| movement traveling to the side |
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Term
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Definition
| half or part of a movement or position; as in demi-plie, demi-pointe, or demi-seconde |
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Term
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Definition
| a partial bending of the knees with the heels remaining on the floor. this is one of the most important movements in ballet |
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Term
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Definition
| back or beginning with the back foot |
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Term
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Definition
| a pivot on both pointes or demi pointes toward the back foot, fifth position. at the conclusion it reverses the front foot from its starting position |
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Term
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Definition
| front or beginning with the front foot |
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Term
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Definition
| separated, or thrown wide apart. a body direction in a diagonal first or second position. this can also be a diagonal arm position |
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Term
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Definition
| shaded. a body direction in a diagonal fourth or fifth position wherein the legs are open to the audience--opposite of croise. in efface alignment the right leg is front when facing the right corner and vice versa |
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Term
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Definition
| a movement escaping the feet from first or fifth position opening to a second or fourth, either with releve or saute |
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Term
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Definition
| the ability to attain height in jumps. it refers to the distance from the dancer's toe to the floor in springing steps |
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Term
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Definition
| rising from the flat foot to demi or full point without the aid of plie |
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Term
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Definition
| traveling in a backward direction |
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Term
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Definition
| traveling in a forward direction |
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Term
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Definition
| traveling in a backward direction |
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Term
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Definition
| traveling in a forward direction |
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Term
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Definition
| linking. a chain or combination of steps arranged to fit a phrase of music corresponding to a sentence in speech |
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Term
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Definition
| crosswise. indicating a movement is to be executed in a cross pattern |
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Term
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Definition
| the working leg or arm moves in an inward motion toward the front of the body. this term also applies to turns that pivot the direction of the supporting leg |
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Term
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Definition
| the working leg or arm moves in an outward motion away from the front of the body. this term also applies to turns that pivot the direction of the lifted leg |
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Term
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Definition
| a body direction in which the body faces directly forward and flat to the audience |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| movements performed in the air, or off the ground, as opposed to a terre |
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Term
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Definition
| turning, as in pique en tournant or soutenu en tournant |
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Term
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Definition
interweaving. a jump in which the dancer crosses his or her legs several times in the air. variations in numbering count each crossing as two beats, one for each leg, or one for each position the legs move through
trois-3
quatre-4
cinq-5
six-6
sept-7
huit-8
neuf-9
dix-10
odd numbers land on one foot, even numbers land on two feet.
entrechat royale is an embellished changement, wiht a beat before the change--also called changement battu |
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Term
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Definition
| shouldering. a term used to indicate a particular placing of the shoulder in relation to the body |
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Term
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Definition
the ability of a dancer to lift and hold his or her leg in the air. the extension heights for en l'air exercises are
full hight = 90 degrees , level with the hip joint or higher
half height = 45 degrees
quarter height = 22 degrees |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
| foutette rond de jambe en tournant |
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Definition
| a virtuoso grande pirouette for the female soloist in which the raised leg extends fourth devant, opens to second, and snaps to passe or retire devant position for the releve ivot |
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Term
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Definition
| a gliding step. a connective step beginning and ending in first, third or fifth position demi-plie with both legs extending in between |
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Term
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Definition
| a bent knee movement in which the whole foot glides or slides along the floor |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| a deep knee bend with the heels coming off the floor (except in 2nd and open 4th positions) and the legs are turned out |
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Term
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Definition
a thrown step. a form of jump springing from one leg and landing on the other.
petit jete is a simple jump from one foot to the other, without a brush, landing in a cou-de-pied or coupe position
regular jete is composed of a battement degage, a spring from the standing foot and landing on the other foot with the pushing leg coming into a cou-de-pied or coupe position
grand jete, a large leap, extending legs to their maximum as in the splits |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| step of Basque. the foot pattern of this step is most commonly side, front and back. There are several variations ranging from country folk style to classical |
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Term
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Definition
a step of the Bourree, which was a pre-classical dance form. Bourree means stuffed. It has evolved into a small connective step in current classical ballet training
pas de bourree change, the foot pattern is most commonly back, side and front. the first and second steps are demi-pointe with straight legs, the third is a coupe or fifth position in demi-plie |
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Term
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Definition
| a spring or jump from third or fifth position where one foot tucks to the other with bent knees, the feet close to each other while in the air. it lands on one foot just before the other returns. |
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Term
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Definition
| horse-like step. pawing the floor from either a closed (third or fifth position) or an open extension (fourth or second). the foot lifts through cou-de-pied, extends to a small developpe to a tendu position, and closes to fifth |
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Term
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Definition
step or dance for two, usually a man and a woman
in classical ballet, a choreographic poem in three parts: adagio, variations, coda
a grand pas de deux has five parts: entree, adagio, two variations, coda |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
a position or movement, pasing through or moving from one position to another, wherein the working leg is bent at the knee, turned out, with the tips of the toes touching the supporting leg, most commonly at knee height.
passe par terre is defined as passing on the floor through first position from tendu devant to derriere and vice versa |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| pricked. this involves the transferring of weight from one foot onto the demi-pointe of the other foot while maintaining a straight leg. the lifted leg can be in any one of a number of positions, the directions can vary, and ique can also be performed turning. this is not to be confused with battement pique |
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Term
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Definition
| bending the knees while the legs are well turned out with weight equally distributed |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| carriage or movement of the arms. a generic term for a group of exercises designed to train the arms to move gracefully and harmoniously |
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Term
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Definition
| carriage or movement of the body. movement of the body in any direction. when performed with circular port de bras it is also referred to as grand port de bras. unlike cambre, it can move forward from the waist and usually does not counterbalance with hip displacement |
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Term
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Definition
poised. a movement held or posed according to the Cecchetti method.
this is the same as pique in other methods |
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Term
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Definition
premier: first position. the arms are circled in front of the body, with the little fingers the height of the lower ribs. same as cecchetti middle fifth
seconde: second position. the arms are extended wide to the side with a slope from the shoulders downward and a slight forward curve, with the little finger tips at the height of the lower ribs
troisieme: in the third position
Quatrieme: in the fourth position
Cinquieme: in the fifth position. this position can be a low oval shape, with the hands in front of the thighs, or high, forming and oval fram around the head
bras bas: a preparatory of finished postion
demi-second: half the usual height of second postion, halfway between bras bas and second |
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Term
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Definition
first: legs rotated outward with the heels touching
seconde: legs rotated outward, directly across from each other wiht about 12 inches or a foot length between the heels
third: legs rotated out, with one heel placed in the instep of the other
fourth: legs rotated out, with one foot in front of the other, spaced about 6-8 inches apart
fifth: legs rotated out, one foot directly in front of the other, with the front heel crossed to the big toe |
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Term
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Definition
a slow turn of the body by pivotin ghte heel around the ball of the base foot in an adagio movement
when the partner circles the ballerina as he slowly turns her in a pose |
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Term
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Definition
| lifted. a movement springing to demi-pointe from demie-plie. this step may or may not displace by snapping the demi-pointe under the center of balance |
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Term
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Definition
| withdrawn. a position where the working leg replcaces the toe as in passe either in front, or to the side of the knee of the supporting leg. if the movement carries to a new position, it's called passe |
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Term
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Definition
| a bow or courtesy as a final respectful compliment in class |
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Term
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Definition
| a terre: working leg inscribes a half circle: devant, a la second, derrieer, first (endehors); or derriere, a la second, devant, first (en dedans) |
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Term
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Definition
| inscribes a subtle arc in second position. the thigh is held immobile in a la second while the lower leg folds into passe, the shapes en dehors by pressing the working heel forward of the working knee as it extends a la seconde, en dedans retraces the same arc inward from a la seconde to passe--opposite from en dehors |
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Term
| grand rond de jambe en l'air |
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Definition
| advanced exercise which utilizes the swivel hip-joint to its maximum. it can be performed in many varieties combining attitude or the extended leg, with or without passe |
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Term
| grand rond de jambe a terre en fondu |
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Definition
| a rond de jambe a terre performed with the base leg in demi-plie |
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Term
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Definition
| a general term which refers to a jump that starts and ends in a demi-plie with the legs and feet extended in the air |
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Term
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Definition
| a foot shaped like a sickle--bad for ballet |
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Term
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Definition
| any jump springing from both feet, and landing on one leg |
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Term
| sissonne ordinaire or petit sissonne |
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Definition
| springs from both feet, sustaining that same beginning position in the air, and lands on one leg, with the other foot in cou-de-pied or coupe position |
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Term
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Definition
| extends both legs open and places the second leg in fifth position soon after landing |
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Term
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Definition
| extends both legs open and landson one leg while sustaining the other leg in the open position |
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Term
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Definition
| sudden jump. a jump starting, sustaining and ending in fifth position. the legs do not change places but are pressed closely together with each jump traveling slightly forward |
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Term
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Definition
| sudden jump, a jump starting, sustaining and ending in fifth position. the legs do not change places but are pressed closely together with each jump traveling slightly forward |
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Term
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Definition
| a displaced releve in fifth demi or full pointe, drawing the legs closely together |
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Term
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Definition
| sustained. this term describes turns or jumps performed in fifth position |
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Term
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Definition
| a term used when the dancer focuses his/her eyes on one spot during a series of turns to avoid dizziness |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| time. this is the part of a step or movement in which there is no transfer of weight |
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Term
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Definition
| a saute in an position springing from one foot and landing on the same foot |
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Term
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Definition
| connected movement. there are several styles; however, it always involves weight transfers alternating croise fourth and second positions |
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Term
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Definition
| this term describes traveling steps performed on the ground, or to indicate that the feet stay close to the floor |
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Term
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Definition
| a fall, shifting the weight from one foot to the other. it is performed from an extension, usually en rise (en eleve), to a position in demi-plie |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| the ability to rotate the thighs from the hip joints. it's an aesthetic concept which greatly enhances the beauty of line and neatness of movement. it is a technical anatomical necessity for every dancer in order to increase his or her range of movement |
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Term
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Definition
the traditional ballet skirt
classical tutus are shorter in length with the net ruffles exposing the maximum leg line
romantic tutus are mid-calf to ankle length |
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Term
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Definition
| one who learns the role of another so he can execute the role in case of an emergency |
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