Common Ballet Terms A-Z

 

Arabesque: This is one of the basic poses in ballet and it basically involves the dancer supporting themselves on one leg with the other extended behind them. Often arm movements are involved to lengthen the form.
Barre: The wooden bar that exercises are completed at. Bras:
The arms Cavalier: The male partner in a ballet dance
Changement: Change of feet. This involves a spring in the air with the feet changing position swiftly before you land.
Demi-plié: A half bend of the knees.
Demi-pointe: Doing dances on the ballets of the feet in soft shoes.
En pointe: Dances done wearing block en-pointe shoes.
Extension: Referring to how high the dancer can raise and hold her extended leg in the air during a movement. Glissade: A glide along the floor with feet in fifth position with the other foot closing behind it. These can be done Devant (in front) or Derriere (behind).
Grande: Big. Refers to doing the movement on a large scale.
Jambe: Leg.
Jeté: A jump. These can be grande, petite or with movement behind them.
Ouvert: Open. This refers to keeping your positions open and big. In feet potions, second and fourth are open because the feet are apart.
Pas de chat: A cat's step. This is a movement where the dancer does a grand jeté with their legs springing separately to mimic a stylised cat movement.
Petite: Small. Keeping your steps or leaps very small and controlled.
Pirouette: A twirl or spin. This is often done en pointe, but can be done on demi-pointe as well.
Plié: A full bend of the knees.
Ront de jambe: A round of the leg. This is a common bar movement where the dancer circles her leg round from first or third position.
Sauté: A spring on the spot, like a jeté but higher.
Sickling: A term which means the pointed foot or toe is not straight.
Turn out: The ability of the dancer to get her feet as turned out as possible in first, third or fifth position.

The feet positions

First position: Heels together with the toes turned out to the side.
Second position: Feet turned out, legs apart.
Third position: Like first position, but with one foot- usually the right unless told otherwise- the heel is touching the instep of the other foot rather than the other heel.
Fourth position: Instead of the right foot touching the instep of the other foot, it is extended infront.
Fifth position: Feet crossing over each other so that one foot is bent in the opposite direction. Can be open or closed.

The arm positions

Bra Bas: This is also called preliminary position and means the arms are held downwards and the wrists curved in.
First: Arms out in front of chest with elbows curved
Second: Arms open to the sides with elbows curved.
Third: A combination of first and second. One arm is held out to the front and curved, the other out to the side. Fourth: One arm is up above the head and curved inwards, the other is held outwards and curved.
Fifth: Both arms are up above the head and curved inwards.