Arabesque (Ah rah besk) - a position on one leg with the other leg raised behind the body and extended in a straight line.. Learn more, Penché is a classical ballet term meaning “leaning.”  When a dancer is doing or in a penché they are usually bent forward over one leg with the other in arabesque well above 90 degrees. Learn more, In ballet, arabesque is a position where the body is supported on one leg, with the other leg extended directly behind the body with a straight knee. If you think of a plié being for two legs, a fondu is the same, just for one. Sign up here. Today, ballet is the fundamental training for many types of dance styles. In ballet, there are five basic positions of the feet, numbered one through five. Generally, rond de bras is not a very commonly used ballet term. ISBN 0-7432-6407-X. Beginner Ballet Terms. Learn more, Divertissement is a classical ballet term meaning “enjoyable diversion.”  A divertissement is a grouping of dances called “entrées” that are part of classical ballets. Learn more, Promenade is a classical ballet term meaning “a walk.”  A promenade is when a dancer turns around on one leg with the standing leg’s heel on the floor, while the other leg is in a position such as an arabesque or attitude derriere. (ah la suh-GAWND) A Terre Literally the Earth. However, unlike sports, ballet is an art form. In dancing it has two meanings: (1) A series of exercises ; À terre: "On the ground," indicates a movement. The ballet term retombe is used mainly in the French School and the Cecchetti method. In this video you will find the French ballet terms used in my book "Ballet for Everybody - the Basics of Ballet for Beginners of All Ages". 0000000016 00000 n Low 5 th Position: (5 en bas) Hands hold a nest. Created. Learn more, Entrechat is a classical ballet term meaning “interweaving” or “braiding.”  It describes when a dancer jumps into the air and beats their legs by changing the position of their legs and feet to the front or back of each other. Learn more, Battement is a classical ballet term which means “beating.” When a dancing is doing battement, they are essentially closing their legs in together then opening again or the other way around, staring from a closed position to an open, back to a closed. Learn more, Pas de chat is a classical ballet term meaning “cat’s step.”  It gets its name because the step resembles how a cat jumps. Ballet is a beautiful and demanding art form, with positions and moves to memorize and, often, strained muscles to heal. ballerina (bah-luh-ree’nah) A leading female dancer of a ballet company. Arabesque (Ah rah besk) - a position on one leg with the other leg raised behind the body and extended in a straight line.. Learn more, An assemblé in classical ballet has many different variations, but the basics are always the same: two legs joining together in the air. Usually, manèges will be a reptetition of one or two steps, but can also be a combination of several. 0000003654 00000 n 0000001246 00000 n It can be easy for a beginner to feel lost with all of the terminology! However, unlike sports, ballet is an art form. Learn more, Rond is a ballet term meaning “round” or “circular.”  It is often seen at the beginning of other steps and simply describes their circular or rounding movement. Thumbs are the Baby birds in the nest, they are sleeping. ; À terre: "On the ground," indicates a movement. Learn more, Étoile is a classical ballet term meaning “star.” The term is used as a rank in the Paris Opéra ballet to signify a leading dancer. 0000011339 00000 n Do … Learn more, Fouetté turns is a classical ballet term meaning “whipped turns.”  A fouetté turn is when a dancer, usually female, does a full turn in passe (pirouette), followed by a plie on the standing leg while the retiré leg extends to  croise front and rond de jambes to the side (a la seconde). Learn more, Similar to a pas de deux, pas de quatre is a classical ballet term meaning “dance for four.” One of the most famous pas de quatre is the dance of the four little swans, or the “pas de cygnets” in the second act of Swan Lake. For example, an assemblé dessus would have the working leg (or first leg) close in front of the supporting leg. Almost every classical ballet has a pas d’action since they are all almost story ballets. Starting in one of many positions -- attitude , arabesque or numerous others -- the dancer makes at least one complete turn. The Ballet Companion: A Dancer's Guide to the Technique, Traditions, and Joys of Ballet. See more ideas about ballet terms, ballet dictionary, ballet terminology. Learn more, A balletomane is an avid ballet fan or enthusiast. Learn more, Piqué is a classical ballet term meaning “pricking” and is a descriptive word to be used with other ballet terms. A classical walk is always, or should, be done by a ballerina and her partner in principal roles as they move around stage. Learn more, Pas de basque is a classical ballet term meaning “basque step.”  It gets its name because the step was taken from the national dances of the Basques. One who selects or invents the steps, movements, and patterns of a ballet. Ryman, Rhonda S. (1998). Having good extension is particularly important for women in classical ballet, but is also increasingly important for men. Learn more, Développé is a classical ballet term meaning “to develop,” or “developing movement.”  A Développé is a movement where the dancer’s working leg is drawn up to the knee of the supporting leg and extended to an open position. Learn more, Soubresaut is a classical ballet term describing when a dancer performs a quick jump from two feet and lands on two feet in fifth position, traveling slightly forward during the jump. 27. Learn more, Jeté entrelacé is a classical ballet term meaning “interlaced throw.”  It describes a step where the dancer throws one leg in the air, jumps and brings the other leg up to meet the first leg, while switching their body position half way around, then landing in an arabesque. Learn more, Grand jeté is a classical ballet term meaning “big throw.”  It describes a big jump where the dancer throws one leg into the air, pushes off the floor with the other, jumping into the air and landing again on the first leg. ; Adagio: “Slow tempo.”In ballet, a tempo in which the dancer moves slowly and gracefully. Learn more, A plié is when a dancer is basically bending at the knees. He must relate these motions to the music, the theme, and the design of the production in order to make a ballet with form, sequence, and purpose. It can be used to describe a style as well as a type of ballet. Learn more, Petit or Petite are classical ballet terms meaning “small.”  It is a descriptive term used with other ballet terms to show that the step is done small. Here you can find and browse our online dictionary for ballet terms. Visitors can enjoy many educational tutorials and tips for ballet technique, create and join discussions in the forums, and see nearby or search for dance schools, summer programs auditions and performances. Streamlined for easy instructional use, each puzzle worksheet in this set — even the word jumble — comes with a convenient teacher answer key for quick correcting. Ballet dictionary has it for you! Dictionary of Classical Ballet Terminology (2nd ed.). swing: Evolved from the jazz era. Learn more, A Choreographer is the term or title for a person who creates ballets or dances. Learn more, Pas de cheval is a classical ballet term meaning “horse’s step.”  It gets its name because a pas de cheval resembles how a horse pulls in its leg before kicking it out again. À la seconde: “To the second position” or “to the side,” as in plié à la seconde or grand battement à la seconde. Learn more, Royale is a classical ballet term that describes when a dancer jumps in the air and beats their legs once before changing the position of their feet and landing. ����Ֆm _��,ݿ�9JB�2F�:���vNn�`�WW����\_���"���HPX$q���s�\�s�X���W�\�`�� �*'q�$T8�3�{�t�~�����)��.od�*�\��b 7� Q�3�d� q�AŌ�}�dxAe��*�b�q��R�j^���V�[�`�,�a�e����Q}�\"Z�r|�~x���C4�+ARM�������h�L�R���/Q���k6t��l����^�,!zͿ�M�9z�ヶ��S�vJ���!�(i��A���㾯[m���h��>r�d�. fox trot: A dance to a 4/4 tempo. Learn more, A romantic ballet is a style of ballet which was largely produced during the early nineteenth century. In ballet, allégro is a term applied to bright, fast or brisk steps and movement. Every ballet term will include it’s definition and a simple explanation possibly along with picture and video demonstration by professional ballet dancers. The Ballet Hub - This site contains information on the history of ballet, along with a dictionary of terms, informative articles, a list of dance schools around the world, and a forum where you can connect with other dancers. polka: Originated as an English folk dance, in a 2/4 tempo. Learn more, Passé is a classical ballet term meaning “passed.”  It refers to the movement when a dancer goes through a retiré position, which is when one leg is bent so it looks like a triangle with the foot placed near the other leg’s knee. Take a look at our online ballet terms dictionary. Learn more, Échappé is a classical ballet term meaning “slipping movement” or “escaping.” A dancer does an échappé with their legs and feet. Relevé is a ballet step that is taught to beginner’s in some of the earliest classes. Learn more, Grand Battement is a classical ballet term which means “large battement.”  A dancer performs a grand battement by throwing the working leg into the air from the hip and brings it back down to a position, typically fifth position. A preparation step is a position or movement in ballet that prepares a dancer for another, usually more difficult, step. Wherever ballet is taught in the world, and in whatever language, it retains one common denominator: the technical terms used are in French. Learn more, Piqué tour is a classical ballet term meaning “pricked turn”  It is most commonly used as simply “pique turn” which is a very common step for female ballet dancers. x�b```b``9����������X؀�c�� �"�`��7�.�E�;҅ Can you tell what the dancers are trying to communicate in the pictures below? Most of the Russian ballet syllabus is based on this style. Ballet Terms A to Z . Battement Battu in Ballet Class Battement Battu is typically done at barre, during a frappé exercise. Description. Learn more, Battement Dégagé is a classical ballet term meaning “disengaged battement.”  Usually used in Cecchetti technique, a battement dégagé is very similar to a battement tendu but done at twice the speed, with the working foot rising about 4 inches off the floor. For example, a tendu derrière would describe a tendu “to the back” with the back leg from fifth position. Glossary of Dance Terms. Learn more, Supporting leg is a classical ballet term that describes a dancer’s leg that is supporting their whole body while the other leg is free to do another step. 0000010771 00000 n Learn more, The set foundation of principles and methods of movement, form and function used in ballet, used to perform and learned as a student. No listing of important ballet terms could omit the lovely pirouette, another of the images that leap to mind when most people think of ballet. Learn more, Saut de basque is a classical ballet term that describes a traveling jump in which the dancer jumps and turns in the air with one leg placed in a retire position. Learn more, Brisé Volé is a classical ballet term that means “flying brise.”  Basically, a brisé volé is when a dancer alternates between brisé front and back in succession. For example, a sissone fermé is when a dancer jumps into the air in a sissone and closes to both feet in fifth position. A male dancer performing a rivoltade will battement one leg in the air and then jumps over it with the other leg. Correct use and development of a plié is a basic but essential movement to a dancer’s technique. Subject. Learn more, A polonaise is a dance within a classical ballet done in 3/4 time. BALLET TERMS DEFINITION A la seconde One of eight directions of the body, in which the foot is placed in second position and the arms are outstretched to second position. Title. Allégro. 0000014033 00000 n It was first introduced in ballets as a character dance in the first act of Coppélia in 1870. BalletHub is an online education, news, event, and discussion resource for the art of ballet. Dancing Terms and Dance Definitions A. À la seconde - A movement with feet to the side or in second position, as in pirouette à la seconde, in which the dancer turns with the working leg à la hauteur (elevated) in second position. Each of the positions utilizes turn-out, or a 90-degree rotation of the leg from the hip joint. It gets its meaning from the ballet terms demi and detourné. swing: Evolved from the jazz era. Learn more, Often called passe, retire is actually the position in which a ballet dancer raises their thigh en l’air with the knee bent so that the pointed foot is placed either in front, behind or to the side of the supporting knee. Learn more, En Dedans is a classical ballet term meaning “inward.” En dedans is always attached to another ballet term to describe the direction it should move. When used with another step such as tendu devant, it is meant that the working foot is closed in front. Most ballet terms that have pas in the beginning are describing a ballet step that has a transfer of a weight, just like you do every time you take a step as you walk! Attitude (ah tea tude) - A variation on the arabesque.The extended leg is raised behind the body but bent at the knee at an angle of 90 degrees. Saut de chat in the French School In the french school, saut de chat translates to “cat’s jump” which is similar to an Italian pas de chat. As ballerino is not commonly used in English speaking countries, it doesn’t hold much regard or honor as the term ballerina does and is sometimes used sarcastically to describe a male dancer. Learn more, Rond de Jambe is a classical ballet term meaning “round of the leg” or “circular movements of the leg.”  A Rond de jambe is a very common step and is seen done in various forms throughout ballet class and performances by both male and female ballet dancers. A school and style of ballet developed by Agrippina Vaganova (1879-1951) in Russia. A coupé jeté is usually done as a series en menège, or in a circle, but can also be done as a single step. The leg in the air is bent at the knee so that it forms roughly a 145 degree angle. Learn more, Class or ballet class is a lesson taken by a dancer or ballet dancer. Learn more, Sauté is a classical ballet term that can be used alone or with another term to mean the step is performed while jumping. Learn more, Glissade is a classical ballet term meaning “glide.”  It is a traveling, usually small, jump that is usually used to link other steps together. Description. Striving for a “good line” is very essential to the success of a professional dancer or advanced student. They are possibly the most recognizable object aside from a tutu relating to ballet. For example, demi-plie, means “half bend at the knees.”  Demi is used less commonly for other terms like demi-arabesque, meaning “half arabesque,” or demi-tour, meaning “half-turn.”     Learn more, Derrière is a classical ballet term meaning “back” or “behind.” Its a term that describes the position or direction for another step or term. Learn more, Coupé is a classical ballet term meaning “cut” or “cutting.”  A coupé describes a step where one foot cuts the other foot away, taking its place. Ballet Terminology is like another language in the dance world. Just a video on terms that I think ballet dancers should know, that can help you in ballet, even if your a beginner or an advanced ballet dancer. Learn more, A pirouette en dedans is a classical ballet term that describes a pirouette turning inward toward the standing leg. The leg is in contact with the floor. Ballon describes the quality of jump, not the height. Subject. Basic Ballet Terms. Created. Their only connection during the turn is, as you can guess, by the fingers or hands. A school and style of ballet developed by Agrippina Vaganova (1879-1951) in Russia. 0000001687 00000 n While it is used in classical ballet, the term choreography is used to describe steps in a dance for every single form of dance. Depending on the size of the ballet company, there may not be a specific title of a régisseur with all of the rehearsing or restaging left up to the ballet masters or mistresses. fox trot: A dance to a 4/4 tempo. Coda: The last section of a pas de deux or of a full ballet. Learn more, Changé is a classical ballet term meaning “changed.” A changé is not a step on its own, instead it is added on to names of other steps to describe a dancer’s feet changing places. Dessus is the opposite of dessous. For example, a male dancer will commonly do a coupé-chassé en tournant before a sauté basque. Learn more, En bas is a classical ballet term that means “low.”  This term is used by teachers and choreographers to indicate a low position of the arms. 27. It is most often seen as a processional dance in ballets like Swan Lake or The Sleeping Beauty where there are royal courts leaving, or sometimes entering, a scene. Undergraduate 1. 09/28/2010. 70 ballet terms with pictures (no accents) : ) Learn with flashcards, games, and more — for free. Learn more, Enveloppé is a classical ballet term meaning “enveloped.”  This step or movement can be considered the opposite of développé. 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