Top Terms
(Italian) A principal female ballet dancer in a ballet company. Ballerinas get more lead roles, which are referred to as principal roles as they are generally danced by principal dancers. Soloists also often dance in principal roles, but...
An informal term for male dancers in a ballet company in Italy. (Wikipedia)
A ballotté is a jumping step in classical ballet that consists of coupé dessous and small developpés performed with a rocking and swinging movement. The step can be performed with the leg extensions at 45 or 90 degrees. (Wikipedia)
A sturdy horizontal bar, approximately waist height, used during ballet warm-up exercises and training. Fixed barres are typically mounted on mirror-covered walls; portable barres can be relocated as needed. Used for balance, not...
(French pronunciation: [batʁi]) A general term for jumps in which the legs open slightly sideways and close (crossed in fifth position) multiple times, alternating feet. (Wikipedia)
(French pronunciation: [baty]; meaning 'beaten') A movement with an extra beating of the feet included, as in jeté battu. (Wikipedia)
(French pronunciation: [ɑ̃ klɔʃ]; meaning 'like a bell.') Refers to brushing through first position from fourth devant or fourth derrière to the opposite fourth with the upper body held upright. Can be done continuously, as is often done...
(French pronunciation: [bʁa kʁwaze]; literally 'crossed arms') Arm placement in which one arm is extended in second position away from the audience while the other is curved in first position (Cecchetti fourth position en avant or...
(Italian pronunciation: [braˈvuːra]) A flashy, showy and elaborate style of dance that involves a lot of elaborate steps and style to similar music. Usually during a key solo. (Wikipedia)
Quick movement of the feet, can be performed on pointe or on demi-pointe. The dancer straightens one leg (the leg in back) and bends a leg and picks it up(the leg in front). Then the bent leg is straighted on the floor and the straight...
(French pronunciation: [kabʁijɔl]; meaning 'caper.') An allegro step in which the extended legs are beaten in the air. Cabrioles are divided into two categories: petite, which are executed at 45 degrees, and grande, which are executed at...
(French pronunciation: [kɑ̃bʁe]; literally 'arched.') A bending at the waist in any direction, forward, backward, or to the side. (Wikipedia)