KATHLEEN FITZGERALD’S

KATHLEEN FITZGERALD’S

Glossary of Ballet terms

adage (French) (ad-dazj) adagio (Italian)(ah-dazj'-eh-oh) Slow, sustained movement.

allégro(ah-leh-groh') Brisk or lively. Bright, brisk jumps that are performed to a sharp, fast tempo.

allongé(aa-lohn-jay') Extended, elongated, outstretched.

arabesque(ah-rah-besk) A position standing on one leg with the other leg extended to the back. Originally an Arabic term.

arrière, en(ahn ah-rehy'-her) Backwards or to the back.

assemblé(ah-sahm-blay') To put together, to assemble.

attitude(ah-tee-tewd') To pose, balanced on one leg while the other leg is slightly bent at the knee, extended to either the front, side or back.

avant, en(ahn ah-vahn') Forward or to the front.

balancé(bah-lahn-say') A rocking step. This step is done to a ¾ rhythm.

balançoire en (bah-lahn-swahr') Like a see saw or teeter-totter.

ballon (bah-lahn) Bounce.

ballonné(bah-lahn-nay') A jump on one foot while the other leg is extended outwards, then comes back to it's original position.

ballotté (bah-luh-tay') To throw about, to toss. This is a jump from either one foot or both feet.

bas, en (ahn bah) Low.

basque, pas de(pah-duh-bahsk') Basque step. This can either be performed as a jump or on the floor as a sliding movement.

battement(baht-mahn') This means 'moving' the leg. A kick.

batterie(baht-tree') This means to 'beat' the legs.

battu(bah-tew') Beaten. This describes certain jumps and steps, for example, jumping and landing from two feet, or a specific movement that is usually performed at the 'barre' - to stand on one leg, the other leg will then beat against it.

bourrée(boo-ray') This is a move that is performed on your half-toe, whereby the first leg pulls the other leg in tightly - in very small and quick steps.

bourrée, pas de(pah-duh-boo-ray') This movement is a series of three steps.

brisé(bree-zay') Broken, breaking. This means to move apart and is a beating jump. Travelling forwards or backwards.

cabriole (kah-bree'-ohl) To caper, to gambol like a goat. To leap, jumping from and landing on the same leg with a beat.

chaîné (shah-nay') Chains, links. A travelling turning step.

changement (shahnzj-mahn') To change feet.

chassé(shah-say') To chase.

chat, pas de(pah duh shah) Step of the cat - having both feet off the ground when jumping from one foot to the other.

cheval, pas de(pah de shuh-vahl') Step of the horse.

cinq (sank) This means 'Five'.

cinquième(sank'-ee-em) This means a 'Fifth'.

cloche, en (ahn klohsh) Like a bell.

contretemps(kahn-trah-than') Against time, counter beating. Stepping quickly from one direction to another.

coté, de (deh koh-tay') This means - to the side.

cou-de-pied, sur le (surh leh koo'-deh-pehay) Upon the neck of the foot (ankle) - the side, back, or front.

coupé (koo-pay') Cut or cutting.

couru, pas (pah koo-rew') Running step. This is to travel to move quickly and lightly across the floor.

croisé (krawh-zay') Crossed. Facing on the diagonal with one of their legs crossed in front of the other.

croix, en(ahn krawh) In the shape of a cross. A movement to the front, to the side, to the back and the side again.

de (deh) To or of.

deux, pas de (pas duh duh) Dance for two.

dedans, en (ahn deh-dahn') Inward.

dégagé (dā'gä-zhā') Meaning Disengaged. This is in between a 'tendu' and a grande battement' where the foot slightly leaves the floor.

dehors, en (ahn dah-ohr') Outward.

demi-bras (duh-mee-BRAH) A halfway position of the arms.

demi-plié (deh-mee'-plee-ay') This is a small bend. Meaning the knee or knees, bend together over the toes - keeping the heels of the foot on the floor.

demi-pointes, sur le( sewr le deh-mee'-pwant) On the half point.

derrière (deh-rehy'-her) Behind or back.

dessous (deh-soo') Under.

dessus (deh-sew') Over.

détourné (day-tour-nay) Turned aside. A backwards turn.

deux (duh) This means two.

deuxième (duh-zee-em') This means Second.

devant (deh-vahn') In front.

développé (dayv-law-pay) Developed.

diagonale en (awn-dy-aguh-nahl') In a diagonal.

dix (deess) This means ten.

dos à dos (doh zah doh) Back to back.

ecarté (ay'-kar-tay') Separated, thrown wide apart.

échappé (ay'-shah-pay') Escaping or slipping movement.

effacé (ay-fah-say') Shaded .

emboîté (ahn-bwah-tay') Fitted together, boxed. A jump from one foot to the other.

entrechat (ahn-truh-shah') Interweaving or braiding. To jump in the air from two feet - beat the legs together in the air, land either on one or two feet.

entrelacé (ahn-truh-lah-say') To weave, to criss-cross, to interlace

enveloppé (ahnv-law-pay) Enveloped.

épaulement (ay-pawhl-mahn') Shouldering. The placing of the shoulders.

face, de (duh fahss) In front, full face.

failli (fah-yee') Giving way.

fermé (fehr-may') Closed.

flic-flac (flehk-flak) a flicking or lashing movement.

fondue, fondu (fohn-dew') Sinking down, melting.

fouetté (fweh-tay') Whipped.

frappé (frah-pay') Struck.

glissade (glee-sad) To glide.

grand (grahn) Meaning - Large.

grand jeté (grahn zjuh-tay') Meaning to throw - a big jump from one foot to the other.

grand pirouette (grahn peer-whet') A large turn with the leg out to the side.

grand plié (grahn plee-yay') To bend both knees fully, at the same time with the body lowered to the floor.

grands ronds de jambes (grahn rohn deh zjahmb') To move the leg from the front to the back in a large half circle.

haut, en (ahn oh) High.

huit (weet) This means eight.

jambes ronds de (rohn duh zjahmb) Round of the leg, a circular movement of the leg.

jeté (zjeh-tay') Thrown.

l'air, en (ahn lahr) In the air.

manège (mah-nez') Circular. Not to be confused with ménage!

neuf (nuhph) This means 'Nine'.

Ouverte, ouvert (oo-vehrt', oo-ver) Open, opened.

pas (pah) A step.

pas d’action (pah dak-syawn) Dance action. A scene in a ballet that expresses emotion or tells a story.

passé (pah-say) Passed.

penché (pahn-shay) Inclined, leaning.

petite (puh-teet) Small.

piqué(pee-kay) Pricked, pricking.

pirouette (peer-whet) Whirl, spin, turn.

plié (plee-yay) Bent, bending.

poisson, pas de (duh pwah-sohn) Step of the fish.To jump from two feet with legs tight together with the body bent backwards.

port de bras (pohr duh brah) Carriage of the arms.

poser (poh-say) To place. To pose.

promenade en (ahn prohm-nahd) In a walk.

quatre (ka-trah) This means Four.

quatrième (ka-tree-em) This means Fourth.

relevé (rehl-leh-vay) Raised.

renversé (rahn-vay-say) Upset, reversed.

révérence (ray-vay-rahnss) Revernce, curtsey, bow.

sans (sahns) Without.

Saut de chat (so duh shah) Cat’s jump.

sauté (soh-tay) Jumped, jumping.

seconde, à la (ah lah sek-ond) To stand on one leg while the other is extended to the side either 45/90/120 or 180 degrees off the floor.

sept (set) This means seven.

serré (sehr-ay) To lock. This is a fast beating of the foot against the ankle of the other foot.

sissonne (see-sohn) To jump from two feet onto one in a closed or open, forward, backward, sideways, over or under position.

six (seess) This means six.

soubresaut (sew-brah-soh) Sudden spring or bound.

sous-sus (soo-sew) Under over. A very tight 5th position in ballet on demi-pointe.

soutenu (soot-new) Sustained. To draw one leg evenly to the other done in place with a half or whole turn, outwards or inwards.

temps (tahn) Time, step, movement.

temps de cuisse (tahn duh kweess) Thigh movement.

temps de flèche (tahn duh flesh) Arrow movement.

temps levé (tahn lah-vay) Time raised. A sharp jump either on one foot or two - step to lift.

temps lié (tahn lee-yay) Connected movement. Transfer of weight of from one leg to the other. Front, side or back.

tendue (tahn-dew) Stretched.

terre, à (ah tehr) On the Earth. On the ground.

tombé (tahm-bay) Fall.

tour (toor) Turn.

tour en l'air (toor ahn lehr) Turn in the air.

tournant, en (ahn toor-nahn) Turning.

trois (rwah) This means three.

troisième (trwah-zee-em) This means third.

Un, une (uh, oon) This means one.

volé (voh-lay) Flown or flying.