Ever been in a ballet class and felt like they might as well be speaking a different language? All ballet movements are spoken in french which can make picking up the steps even more tricky.
Our Head of Dance and former Royal Ballet dancer, Clara Stone, has put together a ballet glossary so you will never be lost in class again! In the shape of a cross front, side, back or back, side, front. Use of the shoulders, neck and upper back looking over the shoulder. A movement from 5th incorporating a rond de jambe a terre and closing to 5th.
Step of the cat a jump from 5th to 5th with an overlapping action with each leg bending and unfurling, one after the other. To rise with a small rising action starting with a plie bent knees. Round of the leg circle the leg like a protractor on the floor from 0 degrees to either 90 or To sustain a turning action revolving the feet, either traveling or on the spot. To stretch an extending action of the leg, a terre with a return closing action.
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The position of sur le cou-de-pied is when the working foot is placed on the other leg between the base of the calf muscle and the top of More specifically, it is almost always a preparation, especially for men for grand allegro. Doing steps en croix can also be done in reverse where they start from the back, For example, its always used with another term, such as tendu cuisse. Another definition to think It is the opposite of its counterpart, dessus.
Dessus is the opposite of dessous. As the dancer turns, the feet position are reversed. When used with another step such as tendu devant, it is meant that the working foot is closed in front. As the working leg is brought up, the standing leg is typically straight while also keeping the This step is best shown with a photo or video demonstration which we will have for your soon! Starting in a closed position, usually fifth position with the feet, the dancer slides both feet out equally into either second or fourth position.
Having good extension is particularly important for women in classical ballet, but is also increasingly important for men. Having great and proper extension does not happen over night and is the final product of many The second leg, or the push off leg, typically ends in an arabesque. The head is then turned As the leg Fondu is one of the most beneficial A flic-flac can be done both en dedans and en dehors and is usually done A finger turn is a classical ballet term describing a step where the girl is turning while being partnered by a male dancer.
Their only connection during the turn is, as you can guess, by the fingers or hands. A finger turn is typically done with the male dancer slight behind and to the left In terms of classical ballet, a finale is usually the last dance or section of a ballet This jumping and landing Failli is a classical ballet term describing a step where the dancer seems to degage each leg to the front immediately after the other with a small jump.
A failli is usually done as a preperation step for jumps and is considered an in-between step. Because of the nature of a failli, it helps a En face is a classical ballet term describing the direction a dancer is facing and is one of the directions of the body.
En face means the dancer is facing directly towards the audience. It can be considered an in-between step. A dancer performs a glissade by plieing in fifth position, sliding or gliding one foot out into a degage side.
The working leg reaches The rond de jambes must both Fifth position en haut It is often seen on stage as well by Many intermediate and advanced ballet classes will A leotard is a tight fitting clothing piece as part of a practice or performance outfit for dancers that covers the torso and typically straps around the shoulders.
Leotards come in many varieties, including differences in sleeve lengths long-sleeve, mid arm, cap and straps around the shoulders or back spaghetti strap, racer back, thick strap. The term line is sometimes confused with an actual line, meaning how most people use line as A mazurka is a polish folk dance that is featured in many classical ballets as a character dance. A mazurka featured in a classical ballet usually features a group of corps de ballet dancers and a lead, soloist couple.
The costumes generally include longer, For example, a step with the right leg forward will travel toward the right corner of the room. An easy way to remember what the ballet They are typically done in 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th positions in classical ballet, both at the barre and center in classes.
Most ballet terms that have pas in the beginning are describing a ballet step that has a transfer of a weight, just like you do every time you take a step as you walk! Simple, right? For example, a dancer will degage A dancer doing a pas de basque will start in fifth position with the right foot in front. A dancer does a pas de chat by starting in fifth position with the right foot in back. When doing a pas de cheval, a dancer will start in fifth position, lift the front leg into cou-de-pied, then extend front This shows the four female dancers with their arms A pas de trois usually assumes there is partnering, so at least one male is dancing with two women dancers or two men and one female dancer.
A dancer doing a pas de valse will extend and step one leg as the other brushes front while decorating the step with classical looking port de bras. Petit is usually A pirouette can be done either en dedans, turning in towards the supporting leg that the dancer is turning on, or en dehors, It can be It is different than a pirouette, where a dancer is on releve A preparation step is a position or movement in ballet that prepares a dancer for another, usually more difficult, step.
Another good example would A pirouette en dedans is a classical ballet term that describes a pirouette turning inward toward the standing leg. For example, if a dancer is turning on the right leg, the dancer will be turning to the right in an en dedans pirouette. Pirouettes en dedans are an intermediate ballet step but very commonly seen For example, a dancer with their left foot in front, will lift the right foot into the pirouette and also turn to the Placement is a ballet term used to describe the specific position in space a dancer should have their body, arms, legs, feet, hips, hands, fingers, and so on.
Pointe shoes are the shoes that ballerinas wear to be safely supported and dance on the tips of their toes in classical and contemporary ballet. They are possibly the most recognizable object aside from a tutu relating to ballet. Today, pointe shoes are made using several different materials including glue, fabrics, threads, and wood.
It is most often seen as a processional dance in ballets like Swan Lake or The Sleeping Beauty where there are royal courts leaving, or sometimes entering, a scene. When doing a polonaise step, a dancer take two steps forward on demi-pointe, For example, if a ballerina moves her arms from first position to fifth position, that is considered a port de bras. When doing proper port de bras, dancers will move In class, teachers sometimes use the ballet term port de bras to instruct students to do a specific stretch at barre.
The students would then place their arms, likely in a high fifth, and bend It can be done in many different A ballet dancer performing a renverse will bend their body from the waist,both sideways and backwards, with the head following the movement of the body. A renverse takes place during a turn and only applies to three steps: a pirouette, a pas de bourree en tournant and a detourne.
The toes of each foot should be directly in front of the heel of the other foot, and make sure your legs are turned out and straight. It also refers to the opening sequence of a two-person dance that includes one partner lifting the other. An arabesque is when the dancer stands on one leg with the other leg extended behind the body.
The arms can be held in a variety of positions. Regardless, the goal of the arabesque is to create as smooth seamless a line as possible with the body, from the shoulders through the arms and down to the toes of the extended leg.
This is the wooden bar attached to the walls of the classroom, though some barres stand on their own. The dancer holds onto the barre for support, and a sequence of barre exercises is part of every ballet class. This when the leg and foot are fluidly swept across the floor from one position to another. The leg should be straight and fully extended so that the foot only brushes the ground during the movement.
When a dancer begins in fifth position, jumps up in place and then switches the position of their feet while in the air so that they land in fifth position with the opposite foot now in front.
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