Ballet Dictionary

Video Dictionary of Classical Ballet Video
This program demonstrates the complete language of ballet with an index of over 800 ballet steps. Made in association with the Metropolitan Opera Guild and Capezio Dancewear. 270 mins. DVD-All-Region.
 $99.95
Visual Dictionary Ballet For Children Video Visual Dictionary Ballet For Children
This 2½ hr. DVD contains a complete visual dictionary and class for the beginner ballet student. It is an invaluable training tool for the student just beginning ballet and reference guide that can be used for years to come. It includes the definitions of terminology, basic technique, movements and steps the beginner student will need to know, with detailed visual instruction on how to execute all of the movements, positions and steps. The class is performed at 2 levels for beginner and advanced beginner student. As the class is taught, the terminology of the movements and steps are recited to help familiarize and reinforce the use of terminology in the ballet class. The Visual Dictionary of Ballet for Children is broken down into 4 chapters: Chapter 1 - The Dictionary of Ballet Technique, includes positions of the arms feet and body, including the basic techniques of ballet. Chapter 2 - The Dictionary of Barre Work, includes visual instruction on the execution of barre movement and steps. Chapter 3 - The Dictionary of Center Work, includes visual instruction on the execution of steps done center floor. Chapter 4 - The Class, includes all of the steps movements and techniques from Chapters 1,2 and 3 assembled into a class. Program creator Rosemary Boross' dance career includes performance with the Metropolitan Opera Ballet, Radio City Ballet, and the American Dance Machine. Visual demonstrations by Rosemary Boross' students from The Ballet Pacifica Conservatory. Inspiring ballet class music by Rory Foster. 155 mins. (2005) DVD-All-Region.
 $59.95

Ballet Dictionary Letter A

Term

Pronunciation

Definition
adagio
ah-dazj'-eh-oh
Slow. A slow, sustained movement.
allegro
ah-leh-groh'
Fast. Jumps performed to a quick, sharp tempo.
Grand allegro: large jumps.
Petite allegro: small jumps.
allongé
aa-lohn-jay'
To elongate; to stretch.
arabesque
ah-rah-besk
A pose on one leg with the other leg extended to the back;
originally, a flourished, curved line used in Arabic motifs.
arrière, en
ahn ah-rehy'-her
To the back.
assemblé
ah-sahm-blay'
To assemble; a jump from one foot landing on two feet.
Example: from 5th position brush the back leg to the side 45° as the supporting leg bends at the knee, then jump off the floor, land on both legs in 5th position at the same time.
attitude
ah-teh-tewd'
A pose on one leg with the other extended with the knee slightly bent either to the front, side, or back.
avant, en
ahn ah-vahn'
To the front.

Ballet Dictionary Letter B

Term

Pronunciation

Definition
balancé
bah-lahn-say'
To swing; to rock.
A swinging 3-step movement that is usually done either on the musical meter of 3/8 or 6/8.
balançoire
bah-lahn-swahr'
See-saw.
A movement that as the leg moves forward and backwards, the body bends in the opposite direction.
Example: begin with working leg to the back and the body leaning slightly forward, pass the leg through 1st position and straighten the body, then extend the leg to the front and the body leans slightly backwards.
ballonné
bah-lahn-nay'
Expanded; from balloon (air balloon).
A jump from one foot to the same foot as the other leg is extended outward and then returns to original position.
Example: begin with the working leg to the back and the body leaning slightly forward, pass the leg through 1st position and straighten the body, then extend the leg to the front and the body leans slightly backwards.
ballotté
bah-luh-tay'
To toss; to toss about.
A jump that can be done from either one foot or two feet.
Example: from 5th position, jump off the floor with both feet, extend the front leg either to the front, side, or back by bending the knee, and land on the back leg.
basque, pas de
pah-duh-bahsk'
Step of the Basque (a country that lies between France and Spain).
A step that can be performed as a sliding movement on the floor or as a jump.
Example: right leg front 5th position; extend the right leg to the front as the supporting leg bends at the knee (demi-plié), make a quarter circle clock-wise (ronds de jambes à terre en dehors) moving the right leg to the side, step over on the right leg and bring the left leg's foot to the ankle of the right leg (sur le cou-de-pieds en avant), step forward (temps lié) on the left leg and extend the right leg back, close the right leg back to 5th position.
battement
baht-mahn'
Movement of the leg
batterie
baht-tree'
Battery; beating.
A general term used to describe the beating of the legs.
battu
bah-tew'
Beaten; beat.
A term used to describe certain steps and jumps. i.e. échappé battu: a jump from two feet with a beat before landing on two feet; also, a specific movement usually performed at the barre. i.e. battement battu: standing on one leg while the other leg beats against it.
bourrée
boo-ray'
To tamp.
A step done on the half-toe where one leg pulls the other leg to close both in a tight 5th position in a series of very small and rapid steps.
bourrée, pas de
pah-duh-boo-ray'
A movement done as a series of three steps.
Example: right leg back in 5th position, pick up the back leg (coupé) to the back of the ankle of the supporting leg (sur le cou-de-pieds en arrière), step up on the right leg, step side on the left leg, close the right leg to 5th position front.
brisé
bree-zay'
To break apart; to burst.
A beating jump from 5th position to 5th position travelling either forward or backwards.
Example: right foot back to 5th position on the diagonal; throw the leg forward and while travelling forward, beat the supporting leg, and then land with the working leg back in the 5th position.

Ballet Dictionary Letter C

Term

Pronunciation

Definition
cabriole
kah-bree'-ohl
Caper; leap.
A beating jump from one leg to the same leg.
Example: hold one leg off the floor and then jump up with the supporting leg, beat it against the other leg and land back on the original supporting leg.
chaîné
shah-nay'
To chain; series of connected movements.
Example: make half-turns in 1st position travelling to the side very quickly.
changé
shahn-zjay'
To change.
changement
shahnzj-mahn'
Alteration; a jump from 5th position, changing the legs and landing in 5th position.
chassé
shah-say'
To glide; a smooth gliding movement that can be either front, side, or back.
Example: with one leg in the front and extended forward of the other leg, step forward on the extended leg, pull both legs together travelling forward in the air, then, land on the back leg with the front leg extended.
chat, pas de
pah duh shah
Step of the cat; a jump from one foot to the other, and when in the air both feet are off the ground.
Example: right leg front 5th position, pull the leg up sharply to the knee and then extend it to the side with the knee slightly bent, jump off the left leg, bringing it up to meet the right leg with its knee slightly bent, land on the right leg, and then bring the left leg to front 5th position.
cheval, pas de
pah de shuh-vahl'
A step of the horse; a movement that can be done on the floor or as a jump, and at 45°, 90°, or 120°.
Example: right leg in front 5th position, pull the right leg up sharply to the supporting leg's ankle, extend it forward and touch the floor with the toes, then, close it in 5th position.
cinq
sank
Five.
cinquième
sank'-ee-em
Fifth.
ciseaux, pas de
pah deh see-zjoh'
Scissors; step of the scissors; a jump from one leg where both legs pass each other forward in the air and landing on one leg.
Example: step on the left leg, pass the right leg through 1st position to the front 45° or 90° off the floor, jump up with the left leg passing the right leg, then, land on the right leg and pass the left leg through 1st position to the back 45° or 90° off the floor.
cloche, en
ahn klohsh
Bell; as a bell; a rocking, swinging motion like a bell.
Example: balançoire en cloche, execute balançoire but with the upper torso swinging in large arcs in the opposite direction of the leg.
contretemps
kahn-trah-than'
Contrary step; a step from one direction that quickly changes to the other.
Example: facing down-room corner with right leg crossed in front of the left leg, in a clock-wise circle move the left leg forward of the right leg and change directions to face the other down-room corner, step on the left leg and pass the right leg forward.
coté, de
deh koh-tay'
To the side.
cou-de-pieds, sur le
surh leh koo'-deh-pehay
Upon the neck of the foot; sur le cou-de-pieds side, back, or front.
coupé
koo-pay'
To cut; a movement that calls for the foot to be sharply pulled off the floor and placed either in front or back of the ankle.
couru, pas
pah koo-rew'
Step to travel; to pursue; a movement that is quick and light, travelling across the floor.
croisé
krawh-zay'
To cross; a position that requires the dancer to face on the diagonal and have one leg crossed in front of the other.
croix, en
ahn krawh
In a cross shape; a term used to describe a movement that is done to the front, side, back, and side again.

Ballet Dictionary Letter D

Term

Pronunciation

Definition
d'ici-de là
deh-see'-deh-lah'
From here to there; a term used to describe a movement with the leg off the floor 45° or 90°.
Example: leg in front 45°, quickly carry the leg to the side, then, back to the front.
de
deh
Of; to.
dedans, en
ahn deh-dahn'
Inwards; a directional term that is used to describe a turn.
Example: standing on the left leg with the right foot passé (right foot placed on the knee of the supporting leg and knee, facing outwards), turn counter-clock-wise.
dehors, en
ahn dah-ohr'
Outwards; a directional term that is used to describe a turn.
Example: standing on the left leg with the right foot passé (right foot placed on the knee of the supporting leg and knee, facing outwards), turn clock-wise.
demi-plié
deh-mee'-plee-ay'
Small bend; a movemen fundamental to ballet that calls for the knee, or knees, to bend in alignment over the toes without causing the heel, or heels, of the foot to lift off the floor.
demi-pointes
deh-mee'-pwant
Small point; rise; a rise on to the ball of the foot; usually referred to when a ballerina is in pointe shoes.
demi-ronds
deh-mee'-rohn
Half-round; half-circle; a term used to describe a movement of the leg usually off the floor 45° or 90° and travels from the front to the side or side to back (en dehors), or from the back to the side or side to the front (en dedans).
deh-rehy'-her
deh-rehy'-her
Back.
dessous
deh-soo'
Under; a directional term used to describe a movement.
Example: right leg in front 5th position, extend the right leg to the side and then place it in 5th position back.
dessus
deh-sew'
Over; a directional term used to describe a movement.
Example: right leg back 5th position, extend the right leg to the side and then place it in 5th position front.
deux
duh
Two.
deuxième
duh-zee-em'
Second.
devant
deh-vahn'
Front.
diagonale
dy-aguh-nahl'
Diagonal.
divisés en quarts
deh-vee-say' ahn kar
Divide in quarters: a movement on one leg with the other extended that switches the position of the body and leg with one quarter turn.
Example: begin in 5th position, extend the front leg either 45° or 90° to the front, turn on the supporting leg one quarter-circle as the leg is moved to the side.
dix
deess
Ten.

Ballet Dictionary Letter E

Term

Pronunciation

Definition
ecarté
ay'-kar-tay'
Step aside; swerving; deviation; one of three épualement positions; a directional term used to describe a position where the leg is extended to the side.
Example: with the hips and shoulders facing the diagonal, extend one leg to the side.
échappé
ay'-shah-pay'
To escape; a movement that begins in 5th position and moves quickly to 2nd position either by sliding feet to the ball of the foot or as a jump from 5th position to 2nd position.
effacé
ay-fah-say'
To draw aside; one of three épualement positions; a directional term used to describe a position where one leg is in either in front or back.
emboîté
ahn-bwah-tay'
To fit in; joining; a jumping movement from one foot to the other.
Example: with the right leg slightly bent and held off the floor 45°, jump up and land on the right leg with the left leg slightly bent and held off the floor 45°; usually this move is repeated in quick succession.
en
ahn
In; to.
entrechat
ahn-truh-shah'
To caper; to dash against each other; a jump from two feet, beating the legs together and landing either on one or two feet.
entrelacé
ahn-truh-lah-say'
To interlace.
épualement
ay-pawhl-mahn'
Shoulder; a term used to describe one of three positions: croisé, écarté, or effacé.

Ballet Dictionary Letter F

Term

Pronunciation

Definition
face, en
ahn fahss
To face; a basic position that calls for the dancer to face the front.
failli
fah-yee'
To nearly fall; a movement that has the body supported on one leg, lean off-balance, then quickly pass the other leg in a given direction and catch the fall.
fermé
fehr-may'
To close; a term used to describe numerous jumps that requires the dancer to close the working leg after the jump ends.
flic-flac
flehk-flak
Slap; pop ( a term used to describe a sound and/or action);a movement performed either in place, with a half-turn or whole turn, and is referenced as either en dehors or en dedans.
Example: with the working leg extended to the front, it closes front 5th position, brushes up the front of the ankle, extends to the side, closes back 5th position, extends to the back, and then closes 5th position.
fondue
fohn-dew'
To melt; a movement that calls for the dancer to stand on one foot, bending and extending both legs at the same time.
Example: the working leg extended to the side, bring the working leg's foot to the ankle of the supporting leg as both legs bend at the knees, extend the working leg to the side with the knee bent, then stretch both legs at the same time.
fouetté
fweh-tay'
To whip; a movement on one leg that requires the dancer to change the hip and torso direction while maintaining the leg direction and position.
frappé
frah-pay'
To strike; to strike powerfully; a quick action of the leg.
Example: the working leg's foot is placed in the front of the supporting leg's ankle, quickly throw the foot forward then softly bring it back to the ankle. This movement can be done front, side, or back, and can also be done with beats.

Ballet Dictionary Letter G

Term

Pronunciation

Definition
gargouillade
gahr-gooee-yahd'
Water spout; an advanced jump from one foot to the other, and can be done en dehors or en dedans.
Example: right foot front 5th position, brush the front leg quickly to the side and jump up, off the other leg; while in the air, first execute a ronds de jambes en l'air en dehors with the right leg and as the right leg lands execute a ronds de jambes en l'air en dedans with the left leg, then close the left leg 5th position front.
grand
grahn
Large.
grand jeté
grahn zjuh-tay'
Large throw; to fling; a large jump that is done from one foot to the other; it can be done either fermé (closed) or ouverte (open); there are many forms of grand jeté such as: grand jeté attitude croisé en arriére (large jump on the diagonal with one leg extended forward and the other leg extended to the back, slightly bent at the knees).
grand pirouette
grahn peer-whet'
Large turn; a turn with the leg extended to the side that is usually executed by the male dancer as a virtuoso movement in a series of turns; in its single form both males and females practice it.
grand plié
grahn plee-yay'
A large bend; a movement that requires both knees to fully bend at the same time, and the body is lowered very close to the floor.
grands ronds de jambes
grahn rohn deh zjahmb'
A large movement of the leg; a movement of the leg that requires the dancer to either have the leg travel from the front to the back in a large half-circle (en dehors) or circling in the rear

Ballet Dictionary Letter H

Term

Pronunciation

Definition
huit
weet
Eight.

Ballet Dictionary Letter I

Ballet Dictionary Letter J

Term

Pronunciation

Definition
jambes, ronds de
rohn duh zjahmb
Circling of the legs; a movement that calls for the dancer to move the leg in a circle; this can be done on the floor (à terre), or off the floor (en l'air) at 45°, 90°, or 120° and either outward (en dehors) or inward (en dehors).
jeté
zjeh-tay'
To throw; to toss; a sharp movement that either describes a throw of the leg or a jump with a throw of the leg.
There are many forms of jeté fermé, jeté ouverte, grand jeté, grand battement jeté, jeté entrelacé.
jeté entrelacé
zjeh-tay' ahn-trah-lah-say'
A large advanced movement from one leg to the other.
Example: step forward on the right leg, throw the left leg forward and jump in the air, switch the torso and hips to face the opposite direction and throw the left leg forward, then land on the left leg with the right leg held off the floor in the back.
jeté passé
zjeh-tay' pah-say'
A movement that basically begins in 5th position and after the jump ends in one leg to the back.
Example: left leg front 5th position facing the diagonal, sharply lift the back foot to the ankle of the front leg, close it back in 5th position as the left leg is thrown backwards with the knees slightly bent, as the left leg returns to the floor, jump up with the right leg and throw it backwards keeping the knee slightly bent, then, land on the left leg in the back with its knee slightly bent.

Ballet Dictionary Letter K

Ballet Dictionary Letter L

Term

Pronunciation

Definition
l'air, en
ahn lahr
In the air; a term used to describe a jump or leg position.

Ballet Dictionary Letter M

Term

Pronunciation

Definition
manège
mah-nez'
Merry-go-round; a descriptive term for a series of steps that travel in a circle around the stage

Ballet Dictionary Letter N

Term

Pronunciation

Definition
neuf
nuhph
Nine.

Ballet Dictionary Letter O

Term

Pronunciation

Definition
ouverte
oh-vehr'
Open.

Ballet Dictionary Letter P

Term

Pronunciation

Definition
pas
pah
Step.
passé
pah-say'
To pass; a position and/or movement that requires the working leg to have its foot pointed to the side of the supporting leg's knee.
penché
pahn-shay'
To incline; a movement where one leg is extended backwards and the other one is standing on the floor, from that position lean forward.
petite
puh-teet'
Small
piqué
pee-kay'
To prick; a movement that calls for the dancer to quickly step out on one leg to the half-toe position.
pirouette
peer-whet'
Whirling; a generalized term used to describe a turn; in the Russian method they usually refer to turns as tours.
plié
plee-yay'
To bend; a fundamental movement that requires the bending of the knee or knees.
poisson, de
duh pwah-sohn'
Of the fish; a movement that describes a jump from two feet with the legs held tightly together and the body bent backwards.
port de bras
pohr duh brah
Carriage of the arms; a term used to describe a movement of the upper torso and arms; in the Russian method there are six port de bras.
porté
pohr tay'
To travel; portage; to carry; a descriptive term used for a number of jumps calling for the movement to travel smoothly and close to the floor.
posé
poh-say'
To pose; a term used to describe a specific position.
préparation
pray-pahr-ah'-zjohn
To prepare; a term that describes a movement before the ronds de jambes à terre exercise; this movement can be done inwards (en dedans) or outwards (en dehors).
préparation, grand
grahn pray-pahr-ah'-zjohn
Large preparation; a term that describes a large circular movement with the leg as the body is bent forward then backward; this movement can be done inwards (en dedans) or outwards (en dehors).
promenade
prohm-nahd'
A walk; anexcursion.

Ballet Dictionary Letter Q

Term

Pronunciation

Definition
quatre
ka'-trah
Four.
quatrième
ka-tree-em'
Fourth.

Ballet Dictionary Letter R

Term

Pronunciation

Definition
relevé
rehl-leh-vay'
To rise; a term used to describe a rise from the whole foot to demi-pointe.
relevé lent, battement
baht-mahn' rehl-leh-vay' lehnt
To rise slowly and evenly; a movement that requires one leg to extend evenly forward as the other leg rises to demi-pointe; it can be done front, side, or back.
renversé
rahn-vehr-say'
Reversing; overturning; a circling movement of the leg and the co-ordination of the torso; can be done on the floor or as a jump.
révérence
ray'-vay-rahnss
Reverence; bow; curtsy; a term used to describe the last exercise of a class.
revoltade
ruh-vohl-tahd'
To fly back; to revolve; a jump that begins on one foot and lands on the same foot.
rond
rohn
Round.
Royale
rawh-yal'
Royal; a beating jump.

Ballet Dictionary Letter S

Term

Pronunciation

Definition
sans
sahns
Without.
sauté
soh-tay'
Jump; a jump off the ground with either one or two legs; also referred to as temps levé.
seconde, a la
ah lah sek-ond'
To the second; a pose on one leg with the other one extended to the side either 45°, 90°, 120°, or 180°off the floor.
sept
set
Seven.
serré
sehr-ay'
Close; compact; tight; a movement that escribes a fast beating of the foot against the ankle of the other leg.
sissonne
see-sohn
A jump from two feet to one; this jump can be done closed (fermé) or open (ouverte), forward, sideways, or backwards, and over (dessus) or under (dessous).
six
seess
Six.
soubresaut
sew-brah-soh'
Sudden leap; a jump from two feet to two feet with the legs held tightly together; the movement can be done with the body held straight or with the upper torso bent backwards (de poisson).
sous-sus
soo-sew'
Below; above; a term used to describe a very tight 5th position on demi-pointe.
soutenu
soot-new'
To support; to sustain; a movement where one leg is evenly drawn to the other; it can be done in place, with half or whole turn either outwards (en dehors) or inwards (en dedans)

Ballet Dictionary Letter T

Term

Pronunciation

Definition
temps
tahn
Step; in time (time-step); though the action is similar as sauté, the sauté action is usually even in its jumping form where the temps denotes a sharper, springy action.
temps de cuisse
tahn duh kweess'
Step of the thigh; quartering of the thigh; a movement that places a foot in front of another, then jump with two feet and land on one foot.
temps de flèche
tahn duh flesh'
Step of the arrow (flèche); a jump from on e foot to the other, and in the air they pass by each other with bent legs.
temps levé
tahn lah-vay'
Step to lift; a term used to describe a sharp jump either on one foot or two.
temps lié
tahn lee-yay'
Step to connect; to thicken; a movement where the legs transfer the weight of the body from on eleg to the other; it can be done front, side, or back.
temps relevé
tahn rehl-leh-vay'
Step to relevé; a movement that calls for the dancer to extend one leg while the supporting leg is bent, then to rise up on the supporting leg to demi-pointe as the other leg moves to the side.
tendue
tahn -dew'
Stretched; held-out; tight; a classic ballet movement where the leg is extended straight out from the supporting leg with the foot fully pointed; it can be done front, side, or back.
tendue, double
doo-bluh-tahn-dew'
Two tendus; a movement that requires the leg to extend from a specific position in a given direction with the foot fully pointed, place the heel on the floor, fully stretch the leg with foot pointed again, then close to original position.
terre,à
ah tehr'
On or to the floor; the earth.
tire-bouchon
teer-boo'-shon
Cork-screw; ringlet-like hair; a description of a turn where the working leg is slowly drawn up the sides of the supporting leg as a turn is executed.
tombé
tahm-bay'
To fall; a movement that requires the dancer to fall with all the weight of the body onto the other leg.
tour
toor
To turn.
tour en l'air
toor ahn lehr
Turn in the air.
tour lent
toor lehnt
Turn evenly; slowly; a term that describes a slow turning movement on one leg.
tournant, en
ahn toor-nahn'
To turn; turn in a circle; a term that can denote many jumps and movements to be executed by turning.
trios
trwah
Three.
troisième
trwah-zee-em'
Third.

U

Term

Pronunciation

Definition
un
uh
One.
unième
uh-zee-em'
First.

V

Term

Pronunciation

Definition
volé
voh-lay'
To fly; to take wing; to soar.

Ballet Dictionary Letter W X Y Z
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