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

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•ehr

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

B

Pronunciation

Description

balancé

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

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 first position and straighten the body, then extend the leg to the front and the body leans slightly backwards

ballonné

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

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 front, side or back by bending the knee and land on the back leg

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-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 5th position

battement

baht•MAHN

movement of the leg

batterie

bah•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 - échappé 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

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 suivi, pas de

pah duh boo•RAY

a movement done as a series of quick steps

bourrée, pas de

pah duh boo•RAY

a movement done in three steps

example: right leg back 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 5th position front

bourrée, pas de

pah deh boo•RAY

step of the bourrée (an Auvergne dance)

a movement composed of 3 steps

example: from 5th position demi-plié right foot back - lift the right foot sur le cou-de-pieds (neck of the foot - ankle), step up on it, step to the side with the left leg, then bring the right down to 5th position front in demi-plié

brisé

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

chaîné

shah•NAY

to chain;

series of connected movements

example: make half-turns in 1st position traveling 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 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

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 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

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•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

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 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

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 again side

D

Pronunciation

Description

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 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-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 passé (right foot placed on the knee of the supporting leg and knee facing outwards) - turn clockwise

demi-plié

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)

derrière

deh•REHY•ehr

back

dessous

deh•SOO

under

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

deuxième

duh•zee•EM

second

devant

deh•VAHN

front

développé

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 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 fouetté)

dix

deess

ten

E

Pronunciation

Description

écarté

AY•kar•TAY

step aside; swerving; deviation

one of three épualement 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

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 in either front or back

example: effacé en avant (to the front) - with the hips and shoulders facing the diagonal (down-room corner left) extend the left leg to the front

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

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

entrelacé

ahn•truh•lah•SAY

to interlace

épualement

ay•pawhl•MAHN

shoulder

a term used in ballet to decribe one of three positions: croisé, écarté, effacé

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

fermé

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

fondue

fohn•DEW

to melt

a movement in ballet 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

example: with the torso and hips facing front extended the working leg front and make one-half turn to face the back, leaving the working leg in place (now in the back)

frappé

frah•PAY

to strike; to strike powerfully

a quick action of the leg

example: 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 also done with beats

G

Pronunciation

Description

gargouillade

gahr•gooee•YAHD

water spout

an advance balletic 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

glissade

glee•SAHD

to slide

a jump from one foot to the other that travels either front, side or back, and can be done with the legs changing positions (changé) or not (sans changé)

example: right leg front 5th position - brush the right leg to the side and jump on to it, then bring the left leg and close it 5th position back

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 grand jeté attitude croisé en arrière (large jump on the diagonal with one leg extended forward and the other leg extended to the back slightly bent at the knees)

example: with the right leg throw it forward with great force, jump up in the air with the left leg extended backwards, and then land on the right leg

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 done in ballet that requires both knees to fully bend at the same time and the body is lowered very close to the floor - see plié

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 reverse (en dedans)

H

Pronunciation

Description

huit

weet

eight

J

Pronunciation

Description

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 9à terre), or off the floor (en l’air) at 45°, 90°, 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 form of jeté but the most common are 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 knee 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 and keep the right leg in the back with its knee slightly bent

L

Pronunciation

Description

l'air, en

ahn lahr

in the air

a term used to describe a jump or leg position

M

Pronunciation

Description

manège

mah•NEZJ

merry-go-round

a descriptive term for a series of steps that travel in a circle around the stage/room

N

Pronunciation

Description

neuf

nuhph

nine

O

Pronunciation

Description

ouverte

oh•VEHR

open

P

Pronunciation

Description

pas

pah

step

pas de basque

see basque, pas de

pas de bourrée

see bourrée, pas de

pas de bourrée suivi

see bourrée suivi, pas de

pas de chat

see chat, pas de

pas de cheval

see cheval, pas de

pas de ciseaux

see ciseaux, pas de

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 is standing on the floor, from that position lean forward as the extended leg is raised

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 (demi-relevé)

pirouette

peer•WHET

whirling

a generalized term used in ballet to describe a turn; in the Russian method they usually refer to turns as tours

plié

plee•YAY

to bend

a movement fundamental to ballet that requires the bending of the knee(s) - see demi-plié; grand plié

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 decribe 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 usually describes a movement before the ronds de jambes à terre exercise - this movement can be done inwards (en dedans) or outwards (en dehors)

example: right leg 5th position front - bend the knee of the supporting leg as the right leg is extended forward, then carry the right leg to the side (or back) as the supporting leg straightens

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)

example: right leg 5th position front - bend the knee of the supporting leg as the right leg is extended forward and the body is bent forward over the extended leg , then carry the right leg to the back as the supporting leg straightens and the body is lifted up and bent backwards

promenade

prohm•NAHD

a walk; an excursion

a movement that is done on one foot and is usually done slow and even; in the Russian method it is usually referred to as tour lent

Q

Pronunciation

Description

quatre

KA•trah

four

quatrième

ka•tree•EM

fourth

R

Pronunciation

Description

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 coordination of the torso - can be done on the floor or as a jump

example: face the down-room left corner (on the diagonal) with the left leg back with its knee slightly bent - bend the knee (plié) of the supporting leg as the body is bent to the right side (right arm above the head [3rd} and the left arm to the side [2cd]), place the left leg behind the supporting (right) leg and execute a pas de bourrée with a full turn counter-clockwise (en tournant en dehors)

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 one foot and lands on the same foot

example: step forward on the left leg, throw the right leg forward and jump up on the left leg, turn the torso and hips in the opposite direction as the left leg steps over the right leg, then land on the left leg with the right leg held off the floor in the back - this step can be done with the passing leg either straight or bent

rond

rohn

round

ronds de jambes

see jambes, ronds de

royale

rawh•YAL

royal

a beating jump

example: right leg front 5th position - jump in the air with both legs, beat the right leg in front of the left leg and then land in 5th position with the right leg back 5th position

S

Pronunciation

Description

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 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 describes 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)

example: right leg front 5th position - jump up with both legs towards the left side, land on the left leg and hold the right leg to the side

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), and either on the floor (à terre), 45°, 90° or 120°

sur le cou-de-pieds

see cou-de-pieds, sur le

T

Pronunciation

Description

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

example: right leg back 5th position - bend both legs (demi-plié), extend the right leg to the side and place it in front of the left leg in 5th position, then jump from two feet traveling to the side and landing on the left leg, then close the right leg front 5th position - the beginning of the movement - extending the leg to the side - can also be done by picking the back foot up and just placing it in front of the other foot

temps de flèche

tahn duh FLESH

step of the arrow (flèche)

a jump from one foot to the other, and in the air they pass by each other with bent legs

example: extend the right leg forward - throw the right leg up in the air and jump off the floor with the left leg, while in the air bend the knee of the left leg and then extend it as the right leg lands on the floor - the passing of the left leg is very sharp like an arrow from a bow, hence the name 'arrow'

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 one leg to the other - it can be done front, side or back

example: extend the right leg forward, step on the right leg in demi-plié causing both legs to bend (4th position) and then transfer the weight over to the right leg

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 basic 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 the 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; slow

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

Pronunciation

Description

un

uh

one

unième

uh•zee•EM

first

V

Pronunciation

Description

volé

voh•LAY

to fly; to take wing; to soar