ballet vocab by Kenya Davis

DEMI - PLIE

890239365_2 — 2025-01-24 00:22:11 UTC

a small or half bend of the knees, keeping the heels of the feet flat on the floor

GRAND - PLIE

890239365_2 — 2025-01-24 00:23:02 UTC

A plié is a fundamental ballet move where a dancer bends their knees while keeping their heels on the ground. It can be done in various positions, such as demi-plié (half bend) or grand plié (full bend)

PORT DE BRAS

890239365_2 — 2025-01-24 00:24:54 UTC

an exercise designed to develop graceful movement and disposition of the arms, typically involving a bend accompanied by arm movement.

RELEVE

890239365_2 — 2025-01-24 00:27:31 UTC

a movement in which the dancer rises on the tips of the toes.

SOUS-SUS

890239365_2 — 2025-01-24 00:28:33 UTC

Sous-sus is a classical ballet term that translates to “over-under.” It can be performed at the barre or in the center. It is a highly versatile step in which a dancer springs onto relevé demi-pointe or pointe, placing the back foot more closely behind the front in fifth position with fully stretched legs

BATTEMENT TENDU

890239365_2 — 2025-01-24 00:29:25 UTC

Among representative types are battement tendu (“stretched beating”), in which one leg is extended until the point of the stretched foot barely touches the ground; grand battement (“large beating”), in which the leg is lifted to hip level or higher and held straight; battement frappé (“struck beating”),

BATTEMENT DEGAGE

890239365_2 — 2025-01-24 00:30:26 UTC

Battement Dégagé – An extended straight leg, brushed very slightly off the floor. Meaning cleared or disengaged, the battement dégagé is similar to the battement tendu but the stretched working foot is brushed off the floor. This is either the same or very similar step to battement glissé and battement tendu jeté.

ARABESQUE POSE

890239365_2 — 2025-01-24 00:31:29 UTC

The term arabesque in classical ballet refers to a specific pose, in which the dancer's weight is supported by one leg while the other leg is held backward in the air.

ATTITUDE POSE

890239365_2 — 2025-01-24 00:45:05 UTC

Attitude as a term of fine art refers to the posture or gesture given to a figure by a painter or sculptor. It applies to the body and not to a mental state, but the arrangement of the body is presumed to serve a communicative or expressive purpose.

ROND DE JAMBE PAR TERRE

890239365_2 — 2025-01-24 00:45:58 UTC

Rond de jambe par terre, which means round of the leg across the floor, is the action of the foot drawing a D-shape on the floor while stabilising the hips and pelvis.

PASSE

890239365_2 — 2025-01-24 00:47:28 UTC

Passé: “to pass” The movement of the leg passing through the retiré position. Retiré The actual position of the dancer in which the working leg is bent with the foot pointed to the front, side or back of the knee of the supporting leg

DEVELOPPE

890239365_2 — 2025-01-24 00:48:16 UTC

développé, (French: “developed,” or “unfolded”), in ballet, a smooth, gradual unfolding of the leg. The dancer raises the thigh to the side with the knee bent while bringing the toe of the working leg along the calf to the back of the knee of the supporting leg.

SUR LE COU-DE-PIED

890239365_2 — 2025-01-24 00:49:13 UTC

The term 'Sur le cou-de-pied' means 'on the neck of the foot'. The sur le cou-de-pied area is the tapered portion of the leg from the base of the calf to the mid-foot of the supporting leg. The working foot is placed on the sur le cou-de-pied, and is always fully stretched (not wrapped).

COUPE

890239365_2 — 2025-01-24 00:51:14 UTC

How: A Coupé means “to cut”. Here, the dancer is demonstrating a Coupé Devant where the working foot cuts in front of the standing leg. A Coupé, while similar looking to a Passé, is done at a much lower height above the ankle bone. This step is usually a preparation or connecting step leading up to a bigger movement

BATTEMENT FONDU

890239365_2 — 2025-01-24 00:52:09 UTC

Battement fondu, or melted beat, is critical for preparing jumps on one leg and strengthening and stabilising the standing leg.

BATTEMENT FRAPPE

890239365_2 — 2025-01-24 00:53:02 UTC

From the French meaning hit or struck, frappé is an exercise in which the dancer forcefully extends the working leg from a bent, lifted position. When done on flat with a flexed working foot, the working foot “strikes” the floor on the way out.

EMBOITE

890239365_2 — 2025-01-24 00:53:51 UTC

A step which alternates from foot to foot, and can be done as a jump or en pointe. From the French, meaning “fit together,” emboîté requires the legs to transfer weight between them, passing as tightly to one another as possible

TOMBE

890239365_2 — 2025-01-24 00:54:54 UTC

Tombe´ Falling down. Used to indicate that the body falls forward or backward onto the. working leg in a demi-plie. ( tohm-BAY)

PAS DE BOURREE

890239365_2 — 2025-01-24 00:55:57 UTC

a walking or running ballet step usually executed on the points of the toes.

PIROUETTE EN DEHORS

890239365_2 — 2025-01-24 00:56:50 UTC

Pirouette en dehors – meaning “turning outwards,” the dancer's body turns towards the raised leg. Pirouette en dedans – meaning “turning inwards”, the dancer's body turns towards the supporting leg.

CHAINE TURN

890239365_2 — 2025-01-24 00:58:05 UTC

a series of short usually fast turns by which a ballet dancer moves across the stage.

PIQUE TURN

890239365_2 — 2025-01-24 00:59:10 UTC

The term “Piqué” means to prick which describes the precision of this movement. The dancer would transfer their weight from one to another by stepping out directly onto pointe (or demi-pointe). This step would often precede another movement where the new working leg would be raised and suspended

GRAND BATTEMENT

890239365_2 — 2025-01-24 01:00:01 UTC

An exercise in which the working leg is raised from the hip into the air and brought down again, the accent being on the downward movement, both knees straight. This must be done with apparent ease, the rest of the body remaining quiet

PAS BALANCE

890239365_2 — 2025-01-24 01:01:00 UTC

Balancé (& Pas Balancé) – A rocking step where the weight shifts from leg to leg. This step is similar to a waltz and is a change in balance of the body, shifting the weight from one foot to the other.

SAUTE

890239365_2 — 2025-01-24 01:02:00 UTC

Sauté means “to jump.” Technically, any jump in ballet can be called a sauté! The exact type of jump depends upon the position of the body in the air. It could be a jump from two feet landing on two feet, or one foot to the same foot.

ECHAPPE

890239365_2 — 2025-01-24 01:02:58 UTC

Echappe´ Escaping or slipping movement. An echappe is a level opening of both feet from a. closed to an open position. ( ay-sha-PAY

CHANGEMENT

890239365_2 — 2025-01-24 01:04:00 UTC

Changement. Change of feet. Changements are springing steps in the fifth position, the dancer. changing feet in the air and alighting in the fifth position with the opposite foot in front.

GLISSADE

890239365_2 — 2025-01-24 01:05:07 UTC

glissade. [glee-SAD] Glide. A traveling step executed by gliding the working foot from the fifth position in the required direction, the other foot closing to it.

PAS CHASSE

890239365_2 — 2025-01-24 01:06:34 UTC

A chasing step in which the feet chase each other. Pas glissé: A gliding step in which one foot slides along the floor to the other.

PAS DE CHAT

890239365_2 — 2025-01-24 01:08:19 UTC

ballet term meaning “Step of a Cat” as the step resembles a cat-like jump

PAS ASSEMBLE

890239365_2 — 2025-01-24 01:11:12 UTC

To assemble, describing a jump during which the working leg meets the jumping leg in the air, "assembling" together, and then landing, usually in 5th position.