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107 Cards in this Set

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The action of lowering the heel(s) to the floor with a straight leg(s)
Adage, Adagio
1-In class this term applies to a series of slow, sustained exercise movements designed to develop grace, sense of line and balance.
2-On stage this refers to the first part of a classical pas de deux danced by the ballerina and her partner.
a` la seconde
Any movement perormed in or through the second position
A series of light brisk movements with a fast tempo such as jumps, leaps, turns, and/or turning jumps
The complete control of the body and feet in a vertical plane during all movements--the ability to hold oneself in balance
A traditional ballet pose in which the dancer stands on one leg with the other extended fourth derrie`re. Extended port de bras may vary.
artistic director
The person responsible for the company and all elements relating to a performance. After he has collaborated with experts in various fields (music, design, etc.), the artistic director then makes the decisions concerning repertoire, casting, choreography, music, sets, costumes, in addition to company personnel, discipline, and technical training.
a` terre or par terre
1-This adjective describes movement or steps which do not require jumping--thos performed on the floor, as opposed to "in the air" (en l'air).
2-It can also modify a pose wherein the leg which is ordinarily lifted, remains on the floor.
A position wherein one leg is raised with the knee bend, either fourth devant, a` la seconde, or fourth derrie`re.
The principle female dancer in a ballet company. In a company of serveral 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 ans Evdokimova, Fonteyn, Makarova, Plisetskaya, and Ulanova.
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.
An enthusiastic ballet fan.
a hand-rail which is intended to aid the dancer's balance during exercises.
The basic action of the leg opening and closing, returning with a beat. There are many different varieties of battements.
battement dégagé
battement glissé
battement jeté
battement développé
Developed. The gradual unfolding of the leg from fifth through cou-de-pied, to passé, to an attitude position, and finally to the full extension. The leg remains extended during the controlled lowering to the close.
battement frappé
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. The performance of this exercise will vary according to method.
grand battement
aka grand battement jeté: One leg throws off the floor as high as possible, extending through the tendu then controlling the return to a closed position.
battement lent
A very slow grand battement.
battement piqué
1-Often performed in a dégagé combination, the toe is lowered from dégagé and pricked on the floor before closing.
2-From cou-de-pied, the foot and the leg extend sharply so that the toe pricks the floor.
battement soutenu
A battement tendu of dégagé, which can be performed en fondu during the opening of the working leg, that extends the supporting leg and/or élevés the supporting heel during the close.
battement tendu
Stretched. 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.
bras bas
Arms low.
centre practice
A group of exercises and combinations performed away from the barre
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.
Indicating that the movement changes the front foot to the other.
A jump changing feet from devant or derrière 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.
A connective step of elevation with one foot chasing the other. It can begin with either a glissé or a tombé, then squeezes to a soubresaut and ends with coupé.
A composer of dances and ballets.
1-The art of composing dances or combining dances to form a ballet.
2-All dances in a ballet or other dance production.
corps de ballet
The ensemble or the group of dancers (non-soloists) in a ballet company.
The position of one foot placed on the neck of the other food--the ankle.
cou-de-pied devant
The outside surface of the little toe places on the large ankle bone of the outwardly rotated supporting leg.
cou-de-pied derrière
The inside surface or back of the heel places just below the outside of the calf on the outwardly rotated supporting leg
cou-de-pied basic
The working foot wraps around the Achilles tendon of the supporting leg in a beveled point.
1-A step transferring the weight from one foot to the other without shifting balance. One foot cuts the other away or replaces it.
2-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.
A male dancer in a ballet company. A danseur noble is a classical male dancer. The leading male dancer has earned the title of premiere danseur.
The female dancer in a ballet company.
Half or part of a movement or a position.
A partial bending of the knees with the heels remaining on the floor. This is one of the most important movements in ballet.
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.
Back or beginning with the back foot.
The ability to attain height in jumps. It refers to the distance from the dancer's toe to the floor in springing steps.
Rising from the flat foot to demi or full pointe without the aid of plié.
Linking. A chain or combination of steps arranged to fit a phrase of music corresponding to a sentence in speech.
en croix
Crosswise. Indicating a movement is to be executed in a cross pattern: fourth devant, à la seconde, fourth derrière, and à la seconde, or vice versa.
en dedans
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.
en dehors
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 in the direction of the lifted leg.
en haut
en l'air
Movements performed in the air, or off the ground, as apposed to "on the floor" (à terre).
en tournant
Turning, as in piqué en tournant or soutenu en tournant.
Interweaving. A jump in which the dancer crosses his or her legs several times while in the air.
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:
1-Full height=90 degrees, level with the hip joint;
2-Demi-hauteur or half height=45 degrees or half of full height;
3-Quarter height=22 degrees or a quarter of full height.
A gliding step. A connective step beginning and ending in first, third, or fifth position demi-plié with both legs extending in between.
Big, large.
grand jeté
A large leap.
grand plié
A deep knee bend with the heels coming off the floor (except in second and open fourth positions) and the legs are turned out.
Maître or Maîtresse de Ballet
The title to designate the person in a ballet company responsible for the training of the dancers and the conducting of rehearsals.
pas de basque
Step of Basque. The foot pattern of this step is most commonly side, front, and back. There are several variations from country folk style to classical.
pas de bourrée
A step of the Bourrée which was a pre-classic dance form. Bourrée means stuffed. It has evolved into a small connective step in current classical ballet training.
pas de bourrée changé
The foot pattern is most commonly back, side, and front, but the pattern can be reversed. The first and second steps are demi-pointe with straight legs, and the third is a coupé or fifth position in demi-plié
pas de chat
Cat-like step. A spring or jump from fifth, thirrd, or first position where one foot tucks to the other with bent knees, feet close to each other while in the air. It lands one foot just before the other returns to the first, third, or fifth position.
pas de deux
A step or dance for two, usually a man and a woman.
1-In classical ballet, a choreographic poem in three parts: adagio, variations, coda.
2-Grand pas de deux has five parts: entree, adagio, two variations, coda.
pas de trois
Step or dance for three.
pas de quatre
Step or dance four.
A position or movement, passing through or moving from one position to another, wherein the working leg is bent at the knee, turned out, the tips of the toes touching the side of the supporting leg, at knee height or lower.
passé par terre
Passing on the floor through first position from tendu devant to derrière and vice versa.
Little, small.
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 very, and piqué can also be performed turning. Not to be confused with battement piqué.
Bending the knees while the legs are well turned out. Weight is evenly distributed.
Whirl. A turn in any position, springing to relevé. This may be performed en dehors, or en dedans; single, double, triple, or multiple.
In ballet-the toe.
port de bras
Carriage or movement of the arms. A generic term for a group of exercises designed to make the arms move gracefully and harmoniously.
1-A movement held or posed according to the Cecchetti method.
2-This is the same as piqué in other methods.
position de bras:
en premiér(e)
In or through first position. The arms are circled in front of the body, with the little fingers the height of the lower ribs. This position is the same as Cecchetti middle fifth.
position de bras:
en seconde
In the 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.
position de bras:
In the third position
position de bras:
In the fourth position
position de bras:
In the fifth position. This position can be a low oval shape, with the hands infront of the thighs, or high, forming an oval frame around the head.
position de bras:
bras bas
A preparatory or finished position.
position de bras:
Half the usual height of seconde position, half way between bras bas and seconde.
positions des pieds:
en premièr(e)
In or through the first position: the legs are rotated outward with the heels touching, ideally.
positions des pieds:
en seconde
In the seconde position. The legs are rotated outward, directly across from each other with approximately 12 inches or a foot length between the two heels.
positions des pieds:
In the third position. The legs are rotated outward, with the heel of one foot placed at the instep of the other.
positions des pieds:
The legs are rotated outward, with one foot in front of the other, spased about six to eight inches apart.
positions des pieds:
In the fifth position. The legs are rotated outward, with one foot directly in front of the other, with the front heel crossed to the big toe.
Lifted. Springing to demi-pointe from demi-plié. This step may or may not displace by snappping the demi-pointe under the center of balance.
Withdrawn. A position where the working leg places the toe as in passé in front, behind, or to the side of the knee of the supporting leg. If the movement carries it to a new position, it is called passé.
Reverence. A bow or curtsey as a final respectful compliment in class.
rond de jambe
Circle of the leg. When performed à terre, the working leg inscribes a half circle: devant, à la seconde, derrière, first (en dehors) OR derrière, à la seconde, devant, first (en dedans).
A general term which refers to a jump that starts and ends in demi-plié, with legs and feet extended in the air.
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.
Displaced relevé in fifth position demi or full pointe drawing the legs closely together.
Sustained. This term describes turns or jumps performed in fifth position.
soutenu en tournant
A turned battement soutenu.
A term used when the dancer focuses her/his eyes on one spot during a series of turns to avoid dizziness.
sur le cou-de-pied
On the neck of the foot.
Time. This is the part of a step or movement in which there is no transfer of weight.
temps levé
A sauté in any position springing from one foot and landing on the same foot (a hop).
A fall, shifting the weight from one foot to the other. It is performed from an extension, usually en rise (en élevé), to a position of demi-plié.
turn out
Ability to rotate the thighs from the hip joints. It is an aesthtic 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.
The traditional ballet skirt.
1-Classical tutus are shorter in length with the net ruffles exposing the maximum leg line.
2-Romantic tutus are mid-calf to ankle length.