Adagio
(At ease) A series of slow, controlled movements which demonstrate the dancer's beauty and grace.
Allegro
(Quick and lively) A series of quick, light movements, generally containing some type of jump, demonstrating the dancer's speed and agility.
Arabesque
One of the basic poses in ballet. Position of the body, in profile, supported on one leg, which can be straight or in demi-plié, with the other leg extended behind and at right angles to it, and the arms held in various harmonious positions creating a long line from the fingertips to the toes.
Attitude Derriere
A position on one leg with the other crossed and lifted in back, the knee bent at a 90 degree angle and well turned out so that the knee is as high or higher than the foot.
Attitude Devant
A position on one leg with the other crossed in front and bent with the knee pressed outward and the foot raised as high as possible.
Balancé
(Rocking step) From fifth position R foot front. Demi-plié, brush the R foot to the side, and step on it. Bring the L foot behind the R foot and rock back on it, then step once more on the R foot. This movement can be done to the front, side, or back.
Cambré
(arched) the bending of one's weight either to the front, side, or back
Chaînés
(Chain of turns) A series of rapid turns on demi pointe in a straight line, while holding the arms and legs in first position and spotting the head. Each step turns the dancer 180 degrees.
Changement (de pied)
(Changing of the feet) This is a jump that begins in fifth position. The dancer then jumps into the air with fully stretched legs and pointed feet, and lands with the other foot in front.
Chassé
(Chased) A travelling movement in which one foot literally chases the other out of its position. This step is usually done in a series.
Echappé
(To escape) A movement in which the legs escape from fifth position to land in second or fourth position, and then return back to fifth position. This is normally accomplished with sautés.
En dedans
(Inward) This term also indicates the direction of the working leg in relation to the supporting leg, i.e. inward or towards the standing leg.
En dehors
(Outward) This term indicates the direction or movement of the working leg in relation to the supporting leg, i.e. outward or away from.
Failli
(Giving way) This small jump is usually a preparatory or connecting step done in one count before a bigger jumping step such as an assemblé.
Glissade
(To glide) A travelling step executed by brushing the working foot in the desired direction, stepping on it, and then the other foot closes to it.
Grand Jeté
(Large jeté) In this step the legs are thrown to 180 degrees with a corresponding high jump.
Grand rond de jambe en l'air
(Large circle of the leg in the air) Done at the barre and in the center. Large movement of the entire leg from the hip bone done in a semi-circle from the front to the back or back to front.
Jeté
(Throwing step) A jump from one foot to the other in which the working leg is brushed into the air and appears to have been thrown. There is a wide variety of jetés and they may be performed in all directions.
Pas de bourrée
(Bourrée step) Beginning R foot front. Step on the right foot, bring the left foot behind it, step to the side again with the R foot, then finish by closing the L foot front. This step can move in a number of directions. "Back, Side, Front".
Pas de chat
(Cat's-step) This jump usually travels to the side, beginning in fifth and landing in fifth. The legs are lifted to the side at the height of the knee, the dancer being careful to maintain the maximum turn-out, particularly on the leg closing in front. The dancer makes a beautiful image in mid-air with the knees sharply flexed and feet pointed. This step may be done changing feet or without changing feet.
Piqué turn
(Pricked turn) Turn executed by stepping directly onto the demi-pointe of the working foot in any desired direction (en dedans, en dehors) or position with the other foot raised in the air. Generally, a basic piqué turn has the working foot pointed at the back of the supporting knee.
Pirouette
(Whirl or spin) A complete turn of the body on one foot. Pirouettes are performed en dedans or en dehors and in any given position, though usually with the working leg in passé.
Relevé
(To rise) A raising of the body onto demi-pointe, which can either be on one or two legs.
Saut de chat
(leap of the cat) Similar to a grand jete except that the front leg goes through a developpe to get both legs 180 degrees in the air.
Sauté
(To jump) Refers to jumping movements, i.e. sauté in first or second position.
Soutenu
(Sustained in turning) A pivot turn which is executed on demi-pointe, and eventually changes to have a different foot front in fifth.
Temps lié
(Connected movement) Transmitting the weight of the body from one position to another with a smooth, rhythmical movement. From a tendu position, the weight is shifted from the supporting leg to the extended leg, moving first through a plie in the open position.
Tombé
(To fall) Can be done falling forward, backward, or sideways
Tour jeté
(Large throw interlaced) The dancer should think of a strong preparation and brush the leg through first for the initial grand battement devant, keeping the hips square and the legs turned out. From second, the arms are gathered in third to help lift the body off the floor. The second leg should be swung back forcefully and pass the first leg after the half turn in the air. The arabesque pose should be achieved while still in the air and the leg should maintain its height upon the landing.
Coupé
(To cut) A position in which the working foot is placed on the ankle of the supporting leg.
Degagé
(Disengaged) Similar to tendu, the working foot brushes through the tendu position to extend about two inches off the ground, and then closes to either first or fifth position.
Derriere
to the back
Devant
to the front
Developpé
(to develop) Starting from fifth position, the working foot travels up the leg - through coupé and passé - extending out to a straight leg, either front, side, or back. This movement is generally 45 degrees or higher.
En cloche
(Like a bell) Refers to battements executed continuously devant and derriére through first position.
En croix
in the pattern of a cross. (Front, side, back, side, as in tendus).
Enveloppé
(Enveloped) Opposite of developpé (to develop)
Fondu
(Sinking down or melting) this is an exercise in which the working foot moves to the coupe position, while the supporting leg executes a demi-plié. The supporting knee then straightens at the same time the working leg extends to the front, side, or back.
Frappé
(To strike) An exercise in which the working leg extends forcefully from a flexed or coupé position to the front, side, or back.
Grand Battement
(Large beating) A movement in which the working leg brushes through the tendu position to achieve a 90 degree angle (or better) in the air. The movement is performed to the front, side, or back.
Pas de cheval
(Step of the horse) Starting from fifth position, the working foot scoops up off the floor to a coupé and then extends to degagé height, then returning to fifth position.
Passé
(Withdrawn/To pass) A position in which the working leg is raised so that the working foot can be placed at the hollow of the knee.
Petit Battement
(Small beating) Small beating action of the foot or leg (front, back, front, back, etc.).
Piqué
(To prick) The straight working leg degagés, then toes quickly touch the floor and then return to the degagé height.
Plié
(Bent) A bending of the knees. Demi-plié refers to a half bending of the knees in which the heels remain on the ground. Grand-plié refers to full bending of the knees in which the heels come off the ground (except for second position).
Port de bras
(Carriage of the arms)
Rond de Jambe
(Circular movement of the leg) Usually, this is a repetitive exercise in which the working foot brushes from first to the tendu position and performs a half circle, and brushes back to the tendu position and returns to first position. A Terre - the foot maintains contact with the floor. En L'air - the working leg is in the air. A la seconde - rond de jambe en l'air with the leg staying in second position.
Soussus
(Over/under) Both feet spring to a tight relevé position with one foot in front of the other.
Sur le cou-de-pied
(On the neck of the foot) Sur le Cou-de-pied devant: wrapped position of one foot placed between the ankle and the base of the supporting leg just under the calf muscle. The sole, with instep stretched and toes pointed, encircles the ankle so that the pointed toes are behind the heel of the supporting foot. Sur le cou-de-pied derriere: the inside face of the heel is pressed against the supporting leg just below the base of the calf muscle with the foot completely stretched and toes down.
Tendu
(Stretched) The working foot slides from the first or fifth to fourth or second position while keeping contact with the floor. Both knees must be kept straight.
Turn-out
This refers to the dancer's ability to turn out his or her feet from the hip joint, preferably to a 90 degree angle or more.