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. (ah la suh-GAWND)	
		
A Terre	Literally the Earth. The leg is in contact with the floor.	
		
Arabesque	One of the basic poses in ballet. It is a position of the body, in profile, supported on	
	one leg, with the other leg extended behind and at right angles to it, and the arms	
	held in various harmonious positions creating the longest possible line along the	
	body.	
		
Attitude	A pose on one leg with the other lifted in back, the knee bent at an angle of ninety	
	degrees and 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 held in a curved position while the other arm is	
	extended to the side (ah-tee-TEWD)	
		
Adagio	A French word meaning at ease or leisure. In dancing, its main meaning is series of	
	exercises following the center practice, consisting of a succession of slow and	
	graceful movements. (ah-DAHZ-EO)	
		
Allegro	Fast or quick. Center floor allegro variations incorporate small and large jumps.	
		
Allonge´	Extended, outstretched. As for example, in arabesque allongé.	
		
Assemble´	Assembled or 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. (ah-sahm-BLAY)	
		
En Avant	Forward. Used to indicate that a given step is executed moving toward the audience.	
		
Balance´	Rocking step. The weight is shifted from one foot to the other. (ba-lahn-SAY) (en	
	tournant)	
		
Ballon	Literally bounce. The springy quality of a jump.	
		
Barre	The railing that a dancer uses for balance in the beginning exercises of a ballet class.	
		
Battement	A beating action of the extended or bent leg. (bat-MAHN)	
		
Battement Tendu	Stretched. As, for example, in battement tendue. (tahn- DEW)	
		
Bras	Arm (brah)	
		
Cambre´	Bending the body to the side.	
		
Chaine´	Chains, links. A series of rapid turns on the pointes or demi- pointes done in a straight	
	line or in a circle (sheh-NAY)	
		
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.	
	(shahnzh-MAHN)	
		
Chasse´	Chased. A step in which one foot literally chases the other out of its position. (sha-	
	Say)	

BALLET TERMS	DEFINITION	
		
Coupe´	Cut, cutting. A step is said to be coupe when shortened. (koo-pay)	
		
Corps	Body. (kawr)	
		
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. (krwah-ZAY)	
		
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 Couru	Running. The step is done running.	
		
en Dedans	Inward. The leg moves in a circular direction, counter-clockwise from back to front.	
	(ahn duh-DAHN)	
		
en Dehors	Outward. The leg moves in a circular direction, clockwise. As for example, in rond de	
	jambe en dehors. (ahn duh-AWR)	
		
Degage´	Disengaged. A dégagé is the pointing of the foot in an open position with a fully	
	arched instep. (day-ga-ZHAY)	
		
Derriere	Behind, back. This term may refer to a movement, step or placing of a limb in back of	
	the body. (deh-RYEHR)	
		
Devant	In front. (din-VAHN)	
		
Developpe´	Developed. A developpe is a movement in which the working leg is drawn up and	
	slowly extended to an open position en l’air and held there with perfect control. (davy-	
	law-PAY)	
		
Ecarte´	Separated, thrown wide apart. In this position the dancer faces either front corner.	
	The leg nearer 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. The head is raised	
	slightly and turned toward the raised arm so that the eyes look into the palm of the	
	hand. (ay-kar-TAY)	
		
Echappe´	Escaping or slipping movement. An echappe is a level opening of both feet from a	
	closed to an open position. (ay-sha-PAY)	
		
Efface´	Shaded. The dancer stands at an oblique angle to the audience so that a part of the	
	body is taken back and almost hidden from view. (eh-fa- SAY)	
		
En diagonal	On the diagonal.	
		
En Face	Facing front.	
		
En L’air	In the air. (ahn lehr)	
		
En Tournant	Turning. The step is done turning.	
		
Epaulement	Shouldering. Using the head and shoulders.	

BALLET TERMS	DEFINITION	
		
Failli	Giving way. A fleeting movement done on one count. (fah-YEE)	
		
Ferme´	Closed position. As in sissone ferme´.	
		
Fondu	Melting– A term used to describe a lowering of the body made by bending the knee of	
	the supporting leg. (fawn-DEW)	
		
Frappe´	Literally, struck beating. From the sur la cou-de-pied position (working foot cupped	
	around the ankle of the supporting foot), thrust the working foot forcefully outward to	
	an extended position, a few inches above the floor, devant (in front), à la seconde (to	
	the second position) or derriere (in back), with the ball of the foot brushing on the floor	
	as it moves outward.	
		
Jambe	Leg (zhahm)	
		
Jete´	Thrown. A jump from one foot to the other in which the working leg is brushed into the	
	air and appears to be thrown. (zhuhTAY)	
		
Jete´ entrelace´ (tour	The body is flung over in mid-air to face the originating position on the land.	
jete´)		
		
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. (glee- SAD)	
		
Grand Battement	Large beating. An exercise in which the working leg is raised from the hip into the air	
	and brought down again, the accent being on the downward movement, both knees	
	straight. (grahn bat-MAHN)	
		
Grand jete´	Large leap.	
		
Pas	Step. The movement involves a transfer of weight. (pah)	
		
Pas de basque	Basque step. (pah duh bask)	
		
Pas de cheval	Horse’s step. (pah duh shuh-VAL)	
		
Pas de deux	Dance for two.	
		
Pas de bouree´	Bourrée step done on the pointe or demi-pointe. (pah duh boo RAY)	
		
Pas de chat	Cat's-step.The step is done with a jump from fifth to fifth, with one foot landing	
	immediately after the other. (pah duh shah)	
		
Passe´	Passed. This is an auxiliary movement in which the foot of the working leg passes the	
	knee of the supporting leg from one position to another. (pa-SAY)	
		
Penche´	Leaning, inclining. As, for example, in arabesque penchee, a high arabesque in which	
	the body leans forward, the head being low and the foot of the raised leg the highest	
	point. (pawn-SHAY)	
		
Petit battement	Small beating. In sur le cou de pied position the foot beats front and back of the	
	ankle.	

BALLET TERMS	DEFINITION	
		
Pique´	Pricked, pricking. Executed by stepping directly on the pointe of the working foot in	
	any desired direction with the other foot raised in the air. (pee- KAY)	
		
Pirouette	Whirl or spin. A complete turn of the body on one foot either on the pointe or demi-	
	pointe, the motive power being obtained from a combination of plie and arm	
	movement. There is a great variety of pirouettes. (peer-WET)	
		
Plie´	Bent, bending. A bending of the knees or knee to render the joints soft and pliable,	
	and the muscles and tendons flexible and elastic. (plee-AY)	
		
Port de bras	Carriage of the arms. (por dih BRAH)	
		
Promenade	In a walk. Indicates that the dancer turns slowly on one foot by a series of slight	
	movements of the heel to the required side while maintaining a definite pose. (ahn	
	prawm-NAD)	
		
Releve´	Raised. A raising of the body on the pointes or demi-pointes, which may be done in	
	many different positions. (rih-leh-VAY)	
		
Reverence	Reverence, curtsey. (ray-vay-RAHNSS)	
		
Rond de jambe	Round of the leg; that is, a circular movement of the leg. Ronds de jambe is used as	
	an exercise at the barre, in the center and in the adage, and is done on the floor (à	
	terre) or in the air (en l’air). (rawn duh zhahnb)	
		
Saute´	Jump, jumping. (so-TAY)	
		
Sissonne	Sissonne is named for the originator of the step. The most commond form of sissonne	
	is the springing off from two feet and landing on one foot, then usually closing the	
	second foot. (see-SAWN)	
		
Soubresaut	sudden spring or bound. (soo-bruh-SOH)	
		
Saut de basque	Basque jump. A traveling step in which the dancer turns in the air with one foot drawn	
	up to the knee of the other leg. ( soh duh bask)	
		
Sous-sus	Under-over. Sous-sus is a releve in the fifth position. The dancer springs onto the	
	pointes, drawing the legs and feet tightly together with the heels forced forward so	
	that they give the impression of one foot. (soo-SEW)	
		
Soutenu	Sustained in turning. (soot-NEW ahn toor NAHN)	
		
Spotting	This is a term given to the movement of the head in turning. The dancer chooses a	
	spot in front and as the turn is made away from the spot, the head is the last to leave	
	and the first to arrive as the body completes that turn. This snap of the head gives the	
	impression that the face is always turned forward and prevents the dancer from	
	becoming dizzy.	
		
Sur le Cou-de-pied	On the neck of the foot. The foot is wrapped at base of the ankle.	
		
Tombe´	Falling down. Used to indicate that the body falls forward or backward onto the	
	working leg in a demi-plie. (tohm-BAY)	
		
Turn Out	The ability of the dancer to turn his feet and legs out from the hip joints to a 90-degree
position. This position gives the dancer freedom of movement in every direction.