Dance Vocabulary and Terminology
Moving Arts Dance Center
A Pronunciation Description
adagio ah¥DAZJ¥eh¥oh slow; a slow, sustained movement
allegro ah¥leh¥GROH fast; fast; jumps performed to a quick, sharp tempo; grand allegro - large jumps; petite allegro - small jumps
allongŽ 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
arrire, en ahn ah¥REHY¥ehr to the back
artiste. ar¥TEEST Performer.
assemblŽ 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
B Pronunciation Description
balancŽ bah¥lahn¥SAY to swing, to rock; a swinging 3 step movement that is usually done either on the musical tempo of 3/4 or 6/8
balanoire bah¥lahn¥SWAHR See-saw; a movement that as the leg moves forward and backwards the body bends in the opposite direction; 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 first position and straighten the body, then extend the leg to the front and the body leans slightly backwards
ballerina. The name given to the female dancer who performs the leading classical roles.
ballon ["balloon"]. The appearance of weightlessness and of being airborne. A dancer is said to have ballon if (s)he seems to be in the air constantly with only momentary contact with the floor
ballonnŽ bah¥lahn¥NAY expanded; from ballon - 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: from 5th position brush the front leg outwards as the other leg jumps off the floor, then landing on the same leg return the working leg to sur le cou-de-pieds
ballottŽ 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 front, side or back by bending the knee and land on the back leg
barre bar ["bar"]. 1. The railing, about waist high, along the wall of a studio. Used by dancers as for steadying themselves in the first part of a class. 2. The first part of ballet class, consisting of exercises done with the aid of the barre.
basque, pas de pas 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-pliŽ), make a quarter circle clock-wise (ronds de jambes ˆ 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 liŽ) on the left leg and extend the right leg back, close the right leg back 5th position
battement baht¥MAHN movement of the leg; 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 - ŽchappŽ battu (a jump from two feet with a beat before landing on two feet);also a specific movement usually performed at the barre - battement battu: standing on one leg while the other leg beats against it
bourrŽe 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; 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
bourrŽe, pas de pah duh boo¥RAY a movement done in three steps; example: right leg back 5th position - pick up the back leg (coupŽ) to the back of the ankle of the supporting leg (sur le cou-de-pieds en arrire), step up on the right leg, step side on the left leg, close the right leg 5th position front; example: right leg back 5th position - pick up the back leg (coupŽ) to the back of the ankle of the supporting leg (sur le cou-de-pieds en arrire), step up on the right leg, step side on the left leg, close the right leg 5th position front; step of the bourrŽe (an Auvergne dance)
brisŽ bree¥ZAY to break apart; to burst; a beating jump from 5th position to 5th position traveling either forward or backwards; example: right foot back 5th position on the diagonal - throw the back leg forward and while traveling forward beat the supporting leg to the working leg and then land with the working leg back in 5th position
C Pronunciation Description
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 and land back on the original supporting leg
camber ["bent"]. A bend from the waist in any direction, but especially forward or back.
cha”nŽ shah¥NAY to chain;series of connected movements; example: make half-turns in 1st position traveling to the side very quickly
changŽ shahn¥ZJAY to change
changement shahnzj¥MAHN alteration; a jump from 5th position, changing the legs and landing in 5th position
chassŽ shah¥SAY to glide; a smooth gliding movement that can be done 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 traveling forward in the air, then land on the back leg with front leg extended forward
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 right leg up sharply to the knee and then extend it to the side with the knee slightly bent, jump of 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 front 5th position
cheval, pas de pah de shuh¥VAHL 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 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 5th position front
Choreographer chor¥ee¥OG¥graph¥er . The person who decides which steps and movements the dancers will use.
Choreologist chor¥ee¥OL¥ah¥jist . The person who writes down the steps.
chug A low, scoot of the body in which there is no upward motion in a direction jump
cinq sank five
cinquime 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 left leg, pass 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
Class (in French, also leon ["lesson"]). A ballet class is a carefully graded sequence of exercises lasting, typically, an hour and a half. The work falls into three parts. The first part consists of stretching and warming-up exercises done with the support of the barre. You may spend anywhere from forty minutes to an hour at the barre. Then you move to the center of the studio to work without support. The second part of class, called adage, consists of slow work in which the emphasis is on sustaining positions and on balance. The final part of class, allegro, consists of fast work, mostly combinations (sequences of steps) with the big jumps and turns that make ballet such an impressive and dazzling sight.
cloche, en ahn klohsh bell; as a bell; a rocking, swinging motion like a bell; example: balanoire en cloche - execute balanoire but with the upper torso swinging in large arcs in the opposite direction of the leg
combination. A series of steps linked together, usually as an exercise in class.
contretemps kahn¥trah¥TAHN 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 - step forward on the right 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
corps de ballet. core¥de¥BAH¥lay A company of dancers who dance as a group.
cotŽ, 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
coupŽ koo¥PAY to cut; a movement that calls for the foot to be sharply pull 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, traveling across the floor; example: step on the right foot and quickly pass the left then right forward - this step can also be done with 5 or 7 quick steps
croisŽ 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 again side
D Pronunciation Description
dÕici-de lˆ 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 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 passŽ (right foot placed on the knee of the supporting leg and knee facing outwards) - turn counter-clockwise
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 passŽ (right foot placed on the knee of the supporting leg and knee facing outwards) - turn clockwise
demi-pliŽ deh¥MEE plee¥AY small bend; a movement fundamental to ballet that calls for the knee(s) to bend in alignment over the toes without causing the heel(s) 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)
derrire deh¥REHY¥ehr back
dessous deh¥SOO under; a directional term used to describe a movement; a directional term used to describe a movement; example: right leg 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
deuxime duh¥zee¥EM second
devant deh¥VAHN front
dŽveloppŽ deh¥vel¥o¥PAY to extend
diagonale dy¥aguh¥NAHL diagonal
divisŽs 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 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 (see fouettŽ)
dix deess ten
E Pronunciation Description
ŽcartŽ AY¥kar¥TAY step aside; swerving; deviation; one of three Žpualement positions; a directional term used to decribe 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
ŽchappŽ 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
effacŽ ay¥fah¥SAY to draw aside; one of three Žpualement positions; a directional term used to describe a position where one leg in either front or back; example: effacŽ en avant (to the front) - with the hips and shoulders facing the diagonal (down-room corner left) extend the left leg to the front
embo”tŽ 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
en dedans see dedans, en
en dehors see dehors, en
en face see face, en
en l'air see l'air, en
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; there are numerous entrechat: -quatres, -cinq, -six, -sept, -huit, -nuef, -dix
entrelacŽ ahn¥truh¥lah¥SAY to interlace
Žpualement ay¥pawhl¥MAHN shoulder; a term used in ballet to decribe one of three positions: croisŽ, ŽcartŽ, effacŽ
F Pronunciation Description
face, en ahn fahss to face; a basic position in ballet that calls for the dancer to face front
failli fah¥YEE to nearly fall; a movement than has the body supported on one leg lean off balance then quickly pass the other leg in a given direction and catch the fall
fermŽ fehr¥MAY to close; a term used to describe numerous jumps that requires the dance to close the working leg after the jump ends
flic-flac flehk-flak slap; pop (a term to decribe 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, then closes 5th position