LITERAL DEFINITIONS
literally defined as "to change"
changement
What country did ballet originate?
Italy
pas de cheval
"step of the horse"
To the side
A la seconde
The way a ballet dancer may walk in a ballet. Usually done to show nobility or to look regal.
"Classical Walking" or "Ballet Walk"
literally defined as "weaving" or "braiding"
Entrechat
What century did ballet begin?
1500s
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 derrière.
Promenade
Body is facing directly to the front
En face
A step where a 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 arabesque.
literally defined as "beating against time"
contretemps
Who is best known for bringing ballet to the United States?
George Balanchine
Pas
"step"
Defined as "in the shape of a cross"
En croix
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 retiré position.
Saut de basque
literally defined as "in slow tempo"
Adagio
Which ballerina is credited with being the first to dance en pointe?
Marie Taglioni
A term from the Cecchetti school indicating a hop on one foot while the other is raised in any position, The instep is fully arched when leaving the ground and the spring must come from the pointing of the toe and the extension of the leg after the demi-plié.
Temps levé
The goal of this position is to stay fully rotated in second on the diagonal, but the working leg going up the back diagonal
Ecarté derrière
A "running step" that is a very common preparatory step for many grande allegro jumps such as a grande jeté. Looks like the dancer is kicking their legs in front of themselves.
"Pas de couru" or "precipité"
literally defined as "Caper"
Cabriole
Which King Louis popularized ballet in France?
Louis XIV
"Waltz step" that is usually done individually with female dancers. The step is done by extending and stepping one leg as the other brushes front while decorating the step with classical looking port de bras.
Pas de valse
Position when the dancer is facing upstage and exposing the upper back
Épaulé derrière
A movement where a dancer degagés one leg to the side, then doing a small rond de jambe with that leg while pushing off the floor with the other leg then doing a rond de jambe with that leg.
Gargouillade