Term
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Definition
| The action of lowering the heel(s) to the floor with a straight leg(s) |
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Term
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Definition
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. |
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Definition
| Any movement perormed in or through the 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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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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Definition
| 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. |
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Definition
| 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. |
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Term
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Definition
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. |
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Definition
| A position wherein one leg is raised with the knee bend, either fourth devant, a` la seconde, or fourth derrie`re. |
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Definition
| 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. |
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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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Definition
| An enthusiastic ballet fan. |
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Definition
| a hand-rail which is intended to aid the dancer's 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 different varieties of battements. |
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Definition
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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
| Developed. The gradual unfolding of the leg from fifth 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
| 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. |
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Term
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Definition
| aka grand battement jete: 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
| A very slow grand battement. |
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Term
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Definition
1-Often performed in a degage combination, the toe is lowered from degage 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. |
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Term
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Definition
| A battement tendu of degage, which can be performed en fondu 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
| 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. |
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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 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. |
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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
1-The art of composing dances or combining dances to form a ballet.
2-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 food--the ankle. |
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Term
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Definition
| The outside surface of the little toe places on the large ankle bone of the outwardly rotated supporting leg. |
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Term
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Definition
| The inside surface or back of the heel places just below the outside of the calf on the outwardly rotated supporting leg |
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Definition
| The working foot wraps around the Achilles tendon of the supporting leg in a beveled point. |
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Term
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Definition
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. |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| 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. |
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Term
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Definition
| The female dancer in a ballet company. |
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Term
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Definition
| Half or part of a movement or a position. |
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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
| 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
| Back or beginning with the back foot. |
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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 pointe without the aid of plie. |
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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: fourth devant, à la seconde, fourth derrière, and à la seconde, or vice versa. |
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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 in the direction of the lifted leg. |
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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 apposed to "on the floor" (à 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
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Term
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Definition
| Interweaving. A jump in which the dancer crosses his or her legs several times while in the air. |
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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:
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. |
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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
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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 second and open fourth positions) and the legs are turned out. |
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Term
| Maître or Maîtresse 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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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 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-classic dance form. Bourree means stuffed. It has evolved into a small connective step in current classical ballet training. |
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Term
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Definition
| 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 coupe or fifth position in demi-plie |
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Term
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Definition
| 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. |
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Term
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Definition
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. |
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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, 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. |
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Term
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Definition
| Passing on the floor through first position from tendu devant to derrière 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 very, and pique can also be performed turning. 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. Weight is evenly distributed. |
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Term
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Definition
| Whirl. A turn in any position, springing to releve. This may be performed en dehors, or en dedans; single, double, triple, or multiple. |
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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 make the arms move gracefully and harmoniously. |
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Term
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Definition
Poised.
1-A movement held or posed according to the Cecchetti method.
2-This is the same as pique in other methods. |
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Term
position de bras:
en premier(e) |
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Definition
| 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. |
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Term
position de bras:
en seconde |
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Definition
| 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. |
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Term
position de bras:
troisième |
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Definition
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Term
position de bras:
quatrième |
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Definition
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Term
position de bras:
cinquième |
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Definition
| 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. |
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Term
position de bras:
bras bas |
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Definition
| A preparatory or finished position. |
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Term
position de bras:
demi-seconde |
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Definition
| Half the usual height of seconde position, half way between bras bas and seconde. |
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Term
positions des pieds:
en premièr(e) |
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Definition
| In or through the first position: the legs are rotated outward with the heels touching, ideally. |
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Term
positions des pieds:
en seconde |
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Definition
| 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. |
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Term
positions des pieds:
troisième |
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Definition
| In the third position. The legs are rotated outward, with the heel of one foot placed at the instep of the other. |
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Term
positions des pieds:
quatrième |
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Definition
| The legs are rotated outward, with one foot in front of the other, spased about six to eight inches apart. |
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Term
positions des pieds:
cinquième |
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Definition
| 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. |
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Term
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Definition
| Lifted. Springing to demi-pointe from demi-plie. This step may or may not displace by snappping 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 places the toe as in passe 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 passe. |
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Term
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Definition
| Reverence. A bow or curtsey as a final respectful compliment in class. |
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Term
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Definition
| 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). |
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Term
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Definition
| A general term which refers to a jump that starts and ends in demi-plie, with legs and feet extended in the air. |
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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
| Displaced releve in fifth position 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 turned battement soutenu. |
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Term
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Definition
| A term used when the dancer focuses her/his 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
| 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 any position springing from one foot and landing on the same foot (a hop). |
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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 of demi-plie. |
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Term
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Definition
| 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. |
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Term
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Definition
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. |
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