danseur noble: the male lead and partner of the ballerina in such classical ballets as Giselle and Swan Lake.
demi-plié: see plié.
demi-pointe: see pointe.
développé: a gradual unfolding of the leg as it rises from the floor and extends itself fully in the air.
échappé: a step in which the feet ‘escape’ from a closed position to an open position as the dancer jumps upwards.
elevation: the ability with which a dancer rises from the floor to perform jumps, and the capacity to remain in the air in the midst of these movements.
en baisse: while bending.
en dedans: turning inward towards the support leg.
en dehors: turning outwards away from the supporting leg.
en l'air: in the air.
entrechat: a step in which the dancer jumps straight into the air from plié, the feet beating, or crossing, a number of times.
extension: a dancer’s ability to raise and hold the extended leg in the air.
finger pirouette: see pirouette.
fish dive: see poisson.
fouetté: a pirouette in which one leg whips out to the side in a rond de jambe, then in to the knee of the other leg. The dancer uses the momentum thus gained to turn on the supporting leg, rising on pointe with each revolution.
gargouillade: a jump resembling the pas de chat, except that in the course of it each leg executes a rond de jambe.
jeté: a jump in which the weight of the body is thrown from one foot to the other. The grand jeté is a swift, high jump in which the dancer pushes off from the floor with one foot in a variety of preparatory positions, holds a fleeting pose in flight, and lands softly on the other foot.
mark: to indicate ballet movements, for instance by means of a finger shorthand, rather than dancing them full out.
pas: step.
pas de bourrée: an intricate step in which the weight is transferred in three movements from one foot to the other. In effect it is a swift travelling movement on pointe or demi-pointe.
pas de chat: a light jumping step in which each foot in turn is drawn up beneath the body before the dancer lands again in fifth position.
pas de cheval: a step in which the dancer’s foot paws the ground, like a horse’s.
pas de deux: in general, a dance for two performers. The classical pas de deux consists of five parts: the entrée, in which the ballerina and premier danseur make their appearance; the adagio, in which the danseur supports the ballerina in a slow, graceful dance; a variation for the ballerina; a variation for the danseur; and the coda, a concluding passage for both dancers.
pas de poisson: see poisson.
pas de quatre: a dance for four performers.
pas de trois: a dance for three performers.
passé: a movement from one position to another in which the foot of the working leg passes the knee of the supporting leg.
pas seul: a dance solo. Also called variation.
penché: a tilting position in which the dancer stands on one leg with the other raised high in back.
piqué: a modifying term indicating that the dancer executes a movement or pose by stepping directly onto pointe or demi-pointe without bending the knee of the working leg.
pirouette: a complete turn of the body on one foot. Girls pirouette on pointe, boys on demi-pointe. In the finger pirouette the male dancer raises his left hand above the ballerina’s head. She grasps his index finger with her right hand while spinning.
più mosso: a musical term indicating a quickening of tempo.
placement: the ability to hold the body in correct position with full turnout in all poses and steps.
plié: a bending of the knees. demi-plié: a half-bending of the knees. grand plié: a deep bending of the knees.
point: see pointe.
pointe: toe. en pointe: on toe. sur les pointes: on the tips of the toes. Traditionally, men go no higher than demi-pointe, half-toe, where the body is supported high on the ball of the foot and under the toes.
poisson: a position in which the ballerina stands on pointe, feet crossed in fifth position, legs pulled back, head lifted, and back arched. When the partner catches or lifts the ballerina in this position, it is called a pas de poisson or fish dive.
port de bras: carriage, or movement, of the arms.
position: Five fundamental positions of the feet are the basis for all steps in the classic dance vocabulary. They are executed with feet flat on the floor, high on the balls of the foot, or on the toes. In all positions, the feet are turned out. First position: the feet are together, making a single straight line. Second position: same as first, but the heels separated by a distance equivalent to one foot. Third position: one foot is placed in front of the other, each heel touching the middle of the opposite foot. Fourth position: one foot is placed in front of and parallel to the other at a distance of one foot. Fifth position: one foot is placed in front of the other. The heel of each foot touches the toe of the other so that neither big toe projects.
premier danseur: the male equivalent of the ballerina; the top rank of male dancer in a ballet company.
principal: in ballet companies, the top rank of dancer. The principal dances solo roles only, usually the leading solo roles in a ballet. He or she may be compared to a leading actor in a drama, as opposed to a supporting actor.
relevé: the raising of the body onto pointe or demi-pointe.
révérence: a deep bow.
rond de jambe: a rotary movement of the leg: toe pointed, the foot describes a circle in the air (rond de jambe en l’air) or on the floor (rond de jambe sur la terre).
sauté: the word is used as a modifier to explain that a jump is involved in a step or pose.
soloist: in ballet companies, the rank intermediate between corps de ballet and principal.
tour: synonym for pirouette.
tour en l’air: a pirouette performed in the air. The dancer, standing in fifth position, rises from the floor from a demi-plié, executes a complete turn, and returns to the original position.
turn-out: the distinguishing characteristic of the classical dance. Each leg is turned outward from the hip at an angle of ninety degrees, so that the knees are facing opposite directions and the feet form a single straight line on the floor.
variation: in ballet, the word means simply a solo dance or pas seul.
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