Ballet Terms

A la quatrieme devant

To the fourth front

A la quatrieme derri�re

To the fourth back

A la seconde

To the second

Arabesque

Position with the leg lifted behind you

Attitude

Bent leg lifted to the back

Balanc�

Rocking step

Battement

To beat

Battu

Beaten

Cambr�

To bend (Only to the back or side)

Cha�n�

Chain step

Changement

Change

Chass�

To chase

Cloche

Bell step

Crois�

Crossed

De cot�

Traveling side to side

Degag�

To dissengage

Derri�re

To the back

Detourn�

Turned aside

Devant

To the front

Devolopp�

To develop

�cart�

Thrown wide apart

�chapp�

To escape

�ffac�

Shaded open position

En avant

Moving forward

En arriere

Moving backwards

En dedans

Toward supporting side (inside)

En dehours

Away from the supporting side (outside)

En diagonal

On the diagnol

En face

Facing forward

En man�ge

Circle around the floor

En tournament

Turning

�paulment

Shouldering (placement of the shoulders)

Failli

Giving way

Ferm�e

Closed

Frapp�

To strike

Fouett�

To whip

Glissade

To glide

Grand Allegro

Big and fast

Grand Battement

Large beat

Grand jet�

Large throw

Grand rond de jambe

Large circle of the leg

Jet�

To throw

Ouvert

Open

Pas de bour�e

Linking step

Pas de chat

Step of the cat

Pass�

To pass

Petit Allegro

Small and fast

Petit Battement

Small beating

Pirouette

Spin on one leg

Piqu�

To prick

Pli�

To bend

Port de bras

Movement of the arms

Port de cour

Movement of the body

Relev�

To rise (with plie)

Retir�

Retire

Rond de jambe � terre

Circle of the leg on the ground

Rond de jambe en l'air

Circle of the leg in the air

Saut�

To toss

Sissonne

Scissor jump

Soubresaut

Sudden spring

Sous-sus

Under over

Temps lev�

Small jump on one foot

Temps li�

Connected movements

Tendu

To stretch

Tomb�

To fall

Tour

Turn

Waltz

A dance or a step in three