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Body posture in which the various segments are placed close to the centerline of gravity.
Alignment
Arch
The spine is curved upward and backward, and is merely an arch of the cervical and thoracic spine
Chaine
a series of turns where the body rotates 180 degrees, usually performed from 1st to 2nd position. When performed in a sequence, looks like a “chain” of turns.
a drawing in or shortening of the body parts.
Contraction
A sequential rolling of the spine used to warm-up the body
Curl-Down
Flat Back
a positioning in which the dancer bends forward from the hips at a 90-degree angle.
Tilt of the torso with an imaginary oblique straight line that passes from the ear, through the shoulder, hip, and knee
Hinge
Jazz Hand
Fingers spread wide open
jazz sitt
a position in which the body weight is maintained on one leg and the knee of the opposite leg is bent with the toe in a forced point.
Tendu,turn-out
: a brush of the straight working leg to its full extension, with the toes remaining on the floor
: the outward rotation of the legs from the hip sockets.
Hitch Kick
the legs pass each other in a scissor like fashion in the air, the first kicking leg becomes that landing supporting leg (can be done with a straight or bend knee on switch)
Kick (Grand battements)
can be performed stationary or across the floor, “a big beating” of the leg, the foot brushes through tendu and then pushes the floor away as far as the leg will go.
Leap
Lunge
: to take off from one foot, land on the opposite foot.
: a positioning in which the foot is advanced as far as possible with the knee bent while the other foot remains stationary with the leg straight.
(grand jete) to jump off of one foot extend the opposite leg out in front and land on it. At its fullest, it looks like a split in the air
Jete
Plie
: a bending of the knee
Demi: a half-bending of the knee
Grande: a full bending of the knee, passing through demi plie.
kick one leg out, step onto the ball of the opposite foot, and put your full weight back on the first foot.
Kick-ball-change
Jazz Splitt, jazz sitt
a half-split on the floor & a position in which the body weight is maintained on one leg and the knee of the opposite leg is bent with the toe in a forced point
Jazz Walks,Jazz Square
roll through the ball of the foot and then lower the heel (plie, releve, plie-releve, and directions)
a movement where the dancer travels forward, steps across in front of the other foot, steps backwards, and then steps to the side forming a box.
Pirouette
: “whirling about” a turn performed in place with the supporting leg in releve, and the other leg in passe (can be done parallel or turned-out).
initiated by stepping to a turned-out second position lunge and sliding the straight leg along the floor, foot pointed.
Jazz Slide
Jump
take off from 2 feet, land on 2 feet (tuck and straight).
Pas de bourre (performed in place or travelling)
: a three-step movement that when executed steps behind, steps out into second, and steps back on the first foot.
Passe
: the dancer balances on one leg, with the opposite leg bent and the toe pointed to touch the hollow of the knee of the standing leg.
Pivot Turn
: a turn on two feet, step forward on one foot; quickly change directions with your body.
Releve,Spotting
: a rise to the ball of the foot.
: dancer’s ability to keep the eyes focused on one spot as long as possible while turning the body.