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TDMV 1
Ballet Vocabulary
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| A la seconde | Foot is placed in second position and the arms are outstretched to second position |
| A Terre | Literally the earth. The leg is in contact with the floor |
| Arabesque | Position supported by on one leg with the other leg extended behind and at right angles to it |
| Attitude | A pose on one leg with the other lifted in the back, the knee bent at an angle of 90 degrees. Must be well turned out so that the knee is higher than the foot. The arm on the side of the raised leg is held over the head in a curved position. |
| Adagio | Meaning at ease or leisure. A series of exercises following the center practice, consisting of a succession of slow and graceful movements |
| Allegro | Fast or quick. Center floor allegro variations include small or large jumps |
| Assemble | Joined together. A step in which the working foot slides well along the ground before being swept into the air. As the foot goes into the air the dancer pushes off the floor with the supporting leg extending the toes |
| En Avant | Forward. Used to indicate a step is executed moving towards the audience |
| Balance | Rocking step. The weight is shifted from one foot to the other |
| Balloon | Literally bounce. The springy quality of a jump |
| Barre | The railing that a dancer uses for balance |
| Battement | A beating action of the extended or bent leg |
| Bras | Arm |
| Cambre | Bending the body to the side |
| Chaine | Chains, links. A series of rapid turns on the pointes or demi points done in a straight line or circle |
| Changement | Change of feet. Changements are springing steps in the fifth position, the dancer changing feet in the air and alighting in the fifth position with the opposite foot in front |
| Chasse | Chased. A step in which one foot literally chases the other out of its position |
| Coupe | To cut, cutting. A step is said to be coupe when shortened |
| Corps de ballet | The ensemble of dancers in a ballet company. The lowest rank |
| Croise | Crossed. The crossing of the legs with the body placed at an oblique angle to the audience |
| en Cloche | Bell. The leg swings through first like the movement of a bell |
| en Croix | In a cross. Barre exercises are often done in this pattern |
| en Dedans | Inward. The leg moves in a circular direction, clockwise |
| Degage | Disengaged. A degage is the pointing of the foot off the floor |
| Derriere | Behind, back. This term may refer to a movement, step or placing of limb |
| Devant | In front |
| Developpe | Developed. A developpe is a movement in which the working leg is drawn up and slowly extended to an open position and held there |
| Ecarte | Separated, thrown wide apart. In this position the dancer faces either front or corner. The leg near the audience is pointed in the second position. The arms are held with the raised arm being on the same side as the extended leg. |
| Echappe | Escaping or slipping movement. An echappe is a level opening of both feet from a closed to an open position |
| Efface | Shaded. The dancer stands at an oblique angle to the audience so that a part of the dancer is taken back and almost hidden from view |
| en Face | Facing front |
| Epaulement | Shoulder movement. Using head and shoulders |
| Ferme | Closed position |
| Fondu | To melt. A term used to describe a lowering of the body made by bending the knee of the supporting leg |
| Frappe | To strike. Thrust the working foot forcefully outward to an extended position a few inches above the floor with the ball of the foot brushing on the floor as it moves outward |
| Jambe | Leg |
| Jete | To throw. A jump from one foot to the other |
| Glissade | Glide. A traveling step executed by gliding the working foot from the fifth position in the required direction, the other foot closing to it |
| Grand Battement | Large beating. An exercise in which the working leg is raised from the hip into the air and brought down again |
| Grand Jete | Large leap |
| Pas de Deux | Dance for two |
| Pas de Cheval | Step of the horse |
| Pas de Bouree | Bouree step done on the pointe or demi pointe |
| Pas de Chat | Step of the cat. The step is done with a jump from fifth to fifth with one foot landing immediately after the other |
| Passe | Passed. |
| Pique | Pricked, pricking. Executed by stepping directly on the pointe of the working foot with the other foot raised in the air. |
| Pirouette | Whirl or spin. A complete turn of the body on one foot |
| Plie | To bend. A bending of the knees or knee to render the joints soft |
| Port de bras | Carriage of the arms |
| Releve | Raised. A raising of the body on the pointes or demi pointes |
| Reverence | Reverence, curtesy |
| Rond de jambe | Round of the leg. Circular movement of the leg. |
| Saute | Jump, jumping |
| Sous-sus | Under over. Releve in fifth position. Feet tightly together with heels forced forward |
| Soutenu | Sustained in turning |
| Spotting | Movement of the head in turning. The head is the last to leave and the first to arrive as the body completes a turn |
| Sur le Cou-de-pied | On the neck of the foot. The foot is wrapped at base of the ankle |
| Tendu | To stretch, pointing the toes |
| Tombe | Falling down. Used to indicate that the body falls forward or backward onto the working leg |
| Tutu | The tulle skirt a ballerina wears |
| Turn out | The ability of the dancer to turn his feet and legs out from the hip joints to a 90 degree position |
Created by:
Tapeters