BALLET TERMS
BALLET TERMS PT2
TRAVELING STEPS
SHOW ME
8 BODY POSITIONS
100
Jeté
What is to throw
100
To assemble
Assemblé
100
A "pricked" traveling turn which starts with the working leg in a demi plie and springing up to a turned-out passe position while the supporting leg is straightened
What is Pique
100
Italian Fouette
Italian fouettés, also known as grande fouettés, begin with a relevé développé écarté devant, followed by a brush through first position facing the back diagonal and a fouetté to back attitude croisé.
100
Ecarté
Widespread or separated
200
Disengaged
What is Degage
200
Chain or Link
What is Chaine
200
To chase
What is Chasse
200
Entrechat vs. Royale
Entrechat describes when a dancer jumps into the air and beats their legs by changing the position of their legs and feet to the front or back of each other. Royale is a classical ballet term that describes when a dancer jumps in the air and beats their legs once before changing the position of their feet and landing.
200
Crossed alignment to the front
What is Croisé Devant
300
The carriage of arms or passage of arms from one position to another
What is Port de Bras
300
Pas de cheval
What is step of the horse
300
A series of many tiny steps done in releve or on point that make the dancer seem to glide across the stage
What are Bourees
300
Show me "Step of the cat"
What is pas de chat
300
What is Croisé Derriere
What is crossed alignment to the back
400
En croix
What is in the shape of a cross
400
Rond de Jambe
What is round of the leg or circular movements of the leg
400
To glide
What is glissade
400
Show me the step for the term "whipped"
What is fouetté. It is used with others to describe different steps, however, it almost always describes the quick whipping action of a dancer's leg or body
400
Effacé
What is shaded
500
Sur le cou-de-pied
What is on the neck of the foot
500
A classical ballet term meaning “beating against time.” The dancer looks like they are a brisé, but opening their body to the other side at the last moment. This step is most often used during Grand Allegro.
What is contretemps
500
A traveling jump in which the dancer jumps and turns in the air with one leg placed in a retire position
What is saut de basque
500
Show me Balloné vs. Ballotté
A ballotté in ballet is a step in classical ballet that consists of coupé dessous performed in sequence with a rocking, swinging movement. The term balloné in classical ballet technique is step where the leg is extended to the second or fourth position (front, side or back) at 45 degrees; then the knee is bent and the foot brough to a sur le cou-de-pied position
500
Show me Epaulé
Epaulé is when the dancer stands at an oblique angle to the audience. While at this angle, the dancer will be standing in arabesque facing a corner. The working leg is the one closest to the audience