Top Terms
(French pronunciation: [plije]; literally 'bent.') A smooth and continuous bending of the knees outward with the upper body held upright.In demi-plié, (in a first, second, fourth, and fifth position) a dancer bends the knees while...
On the floor/ground
(French pronunciation: [alɔ̃ʒe]; meaning 'elongated.') Refers to a foot and leg position when the toes and knees are extended and elongated, rather than forming the usual soft curve. (Wikipedia)
Arabesque is a position in ballet where the body is supported on a single leg, while the other leg is extended directly behind the body with a straight knee. There are several different versions of arabesque such as first, second, and...
Away from the supporting leg
An assemblé has several different variations. The basics being that the two legs join together in the air. Since assemblé is a jump, you’ll mostly see them in petit allegro and grandé allegro combinations during a classical ballet class....
(French pronunciation: [atityd]) A position in which a dancer stands on one leg (the supporting leg) while the other leg (working leg) is raised and turned out with knee bent to form an angle of approximately 90° between the thigh and...
Balloné is a common term in ballet used to describe a technique where the leg is extended to the second or fourth position at 45 degrees. Then, the knee is bent and the foot brought to a sur le-cou-de-pied position. There are two...
To beat (a movement with a closing action of the working leg)
(Literally 'chased.')A sliding movement forward, backward, or sideways with both legs bent, then springing into the air with legs straight and together. It can be done either in a gallop or by pushing the leading foot along the floor in...
To cut
Crossed position to the audience