french terms
To chase, A gallop step in which one foot literally chases the other foot out of its position
Chassé
turn in place with feet and legs together
Pencil Turn
a jazz leap jumping from both feet and placing one leg in a bent leg position and the other leg is straight.
stag leap
Jumping step performing in arabesque, arms reaching towards the sky
Sparkle Sauté
Thrown, Large leap
(Grand) Jeté
Pricked, Turn on one foot in relevé and the other leg is lifted in passé.
Piqué turns
a turning leap in which the working leg is brushed and held straight, while the back leg is held in the attitude position.
Calypso
(stretched) the action of stretching your leg and foot out from one position to another, while keeping it on the floor.
tendu
Circle of the leg.
Rond de jambe
Chained, a linked turning step with straight legs
Chaînés
Backwards shoulder roll, where the legs are extending over the head
Fish Flop
a position on one leg with the other lifted in back, the knee bent at an angle of 90 degrees and turned out so that the knee is higher than the foot.
attitude
Three step movement; back, side, front
Pas de bourrée
Turn or spin, A complete turn of the body on one foot
Pirouette
Side chassé and ball change to the back
Lindy
“raised.” It describes the action when a dancer rises up and seemingly is standing “on their toes” in a demi-pointe or a fully en pointe.
Relevé
a position of the body supported on one leg with the other leg extended behind and at right angles to it.
Arabesque
a pirouette performed with a circular whipping movement of the raised leg to the side.
Fouetté
Change of weight in the ball of the feet from one foot to the other, two steps in place.
Ball Change
a dance for two people, typically a man and a woman.
pas de deux