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Ballet Terminology
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Adagio
A series of exercises consisting of a succession of slow and graceful movements. Adagio can be performed solo or with a partner.
Allégro
Brisk, lively movement. Allégro in ballet involves fast and dynamic movements, usually jumping steps.
Arabesque
A pose in which the dancer stands on one leg with the other leg extended directly behind the body, maintaining a straight line from head to toe.
Assemblé
A jump from one foot to two feet where the legs come together in the air before landing.
Attitude
A position where the dancer stands on one leg with the other lifted, usually to the front or back, with the knee bent at an angle.
Balancé
A rocking sequence of steps that shifts the weight from foot to foot, often used in waltz-like dances.
Brisé
A small, beating jump where one foot brushes out to beat against the other foot before landing.
Cabriole
A leap where one leg is kicked into the air and the other leg meets it before landing.
Chaîné
A series of rapid turns on alternating feet with each half turn creating a link in a chain-like sequence.
Chassé
A movement where one foot chases the other foot out of its position; it's a gliding step with one foot chasing the other.
Coupé
A step where one foot cuts the other foot away, taking its place. It is both a step and a position, where one foot is positioned at the ankle of the supporting leg.
Dégagé
A movement where the leg is lifted off the floor with a pointed foot and straight leg to the front, side, or back.
Échappé
A sliding movement where the feet move from a closed position to an open position.
Entrechat
A jump where the dancer crosses the legs multiple times before landing.
Fondu
A lowering of the body on one leg by bending the knee.
Frappé
A sharp strike of the foot to the floor.
Glissade
A gliding step in which one foot slides into the air at a shallow angle before landing while the other foot brushes into fifth position.
Grand Battement
A large, swift kick in which the dancer lifts the leg as high as possible while keeping both hips aligned and the supporting leg straight.
Jeté
A jump from one foot to the other in which the working leg is thrown to the side, front, or back.
Pas de bourrée
A quick sequence of steps that typically involves stepping behind, side, and then to the front.
Pas de chat
A jump resembling a cat's leap where the knees are lifted and the feet are drawn up beneath the body.
Pas de deux
A dance for two, typically a male and female dancer, involving lifts, turns, and synchronized movements.
Penché
A movement where the dancer's body bends forward or sideways with the legs lifted to the back.
Piqué
A movement where the dancer steps directly onto the tip of the toe with a straight leg.
Pirouette
A complete turn of the body on one foot, either on pointe or demi-pointe.
Plié
A bending of the knees while the torso is held erect.
Port de bras
A movement or series of movements made by passing the arm or arms through various positions.
Relevé
The action of rising to the balls of the feet (demi-pointe) or on the toes (pointe).
Rond de jambe
A circular movement of the leg that can be done on the ground (à terre) or in the air (en l'air).
Sauté
A jump off both feet, landing on both feet.
Sissone
A jump from two feet to one foot, named after the originator of the step.
Soubresaut
A sudden, quick jump from two feet to two feet, often done in a forward motion.
Sous-sus
A relevé in fifth position, drawing the legs tightly together with the feet pointed downward to form a tight line.
Tendu
A motion where the leg is extended along the floor until the point of the toe is reached.
Tombé
A movement in which the dancer steps forward, sideways, or backward and into a plié, as if falling.
Tour en l'air
A turn in the air usually done by male dancers. It involves turning once or multiple times and can include various leg positions.
Tour jeté
A turning leap in which the dancer brushes one leg into the air, turns while in the air, and lands on the other leg.
Pas de cheval
A step resembling the action of a horse’s pawing the ground; the working foot is drawn up to the knee of the supporting leg and then extended to the desired direction.
Retiré
A position in which the thigh is raised to the second position en l'air while the knee is bent so that the toe is pointed next to the supporting knee (often used in preparation for a pirouette).
Fouetté
A whipped movement. In a fouetté turn, the dancer’s body turns with a whipping leg action while the supporting leg does a relevé.
En croix
Describes a movement done front, side, back, and then side again (shaped like a cross).
En dehors
A movement outward. For example, in a pirouette en dehors, the dancer turns away from the supporting leg.
En dedans
A movement inward. For example, in a pirouette en dedans, the dancer turns toward the supporting leg.
Enveloppé
A movement in which the working leg is drawn up to the knee of the supporting leg and then extended again to a position such as devant, à la seconde, or derrière.
Battement
A beating movement of the extended or bent leg.
Fermé
Means 'closed.' In ballet, it describes a step where the feet finish in a closed position.
Grand pas
A dance sequence that typically includes an entrée, adagio, two variations (solo dances for the male and female dancers), and a coda.
Manège
A circular pattern of travel on the stage, usually incorporating a sequence of jumps or turns.
Promenade
A slow pivot on one foot in which the dancer's body rotates while maintaining a pose such as an arabesque or attitude.
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