Body Positions
facing the audience with the working leg extended in the second position
A la seconde
"To stretch"
Tendu
"Chased or to chase"
Chasse
Typically done first at the barre
Plies
Tour jete
jump with legs switching in the air
Facing a corner, the working leg closest to the audience is tendu to fourth position with arms in 3rd position with lower arm on the same side as the working leg
Croise devant
"To escape"
Echappe
"to glide"
Glissade
Exercise done after tendu at the barre
Dégagé
Pas de basque
traveling step where leg moves second, coupe, fourth, cut
facing the audience with the working leg extended in the fourth position to the back
A la quatrieme derriere
"To throw"
Jete
"Leap of the cat"
Saut de chat
The direction you turn between exercises at the barre to face the other way
Towards the barre
Tour en lair
traveling jump where legs go to sous-sus in the air while turning
Facing a corner, the working leg is further from the audience and extended in the fourth position devant. The dancer’s arms are places in third position with the lower arm on the same side as the extended leg.
Efface
"Step of the horse"
Pas de cheval
"pricked or pricking"
Pique
Typically done last at the barre, sometimes done across the floor instead
Grand Battement
Royale
petit allegro jump, beat front the change to back 5th, goes through 3 positions
Facing a corner, the working leg is the one closest to the audience. The dancer’s working leg will tendu to the back in fourth position, and the arm closes to the audience will be extended to the front, and the head will be raised and turned slightly towards the audience
Epaule
"Butterfly"
Papillon
"over-under"
"Sous-sus"
When doing a pirouette at the barre, the direction you turn
Away from the barre
Cabriole devant
saute dégagé devant with thighs beating in the air