| Dance Dictionary If you're new to dance or coaching dance, and you have trouble keeping your terminology straight, check out our Dance Dictionary! ADAGIO: Any dance to slow music; also, part of the classical pas de deux in ballet. AIR, EN L': In ballet, a step done off the ground - for instance, tour en l'air, round de jambe en l'air. It is the opposite of par terre. ALLEGRO: A dance with a fast or moderate tempo. ALLONGE: In ballet, an elongated line; in particular, the horizontal line of an arabesque with one arm stretched front and the other back. ARABESQUE: Position on one leg, with the other leg raised straight behind the body. ASSEMBLE: In ballet, a jump from one to both feet, usually landing in fifth position. ATTITUDE: In ballet, a pose in which one leg is raised in back or in front with knee bent, usually with one arm raised. AXEL: A tuck jump turning outward leaving and landing on the same foot. BALANCE: A step that rocks from one foot to the other, usually in 3/4 time. BALLET: From the Italian balletto, diminutive of ballo, "dance." Classical theatrical dancing based on the danse d'ecole, the rules and vocabulary that were codified around 1700 in France. BALL CHANGE: Consisting of 2 steps; rocking on the ball of one foot and stepping on the other. BALLON: In ballet, the ability of a dancer to remain suspended in air during a jump; elasticity in jumping. BASIC MOVEMENT: In ballroom dance, a characteristic figure that remains constant. BATTEMENT: A beating movement of the legs. PAS DE BOURREE: A series of small, fast steps executed with the feet very close together. BRISE: In ballet, a jump off one foot that is "broken" by a beating of the legs in the air. CABRIOLE: In ballet, a leap in which the lower leg beats against the upper one at an angle, before the dancer lands again on the lower leg. CAMBRE: In ballet, a bend from the waist to the side or to the back. CHASSE: A sliding step in which one foot "chases" and displaces the other. PAS DE CHAT: Catlike leap in which one foot follows the other into the air, knees bent; the landing is in the fifth position. CISEAUZ: A jump in which the legs open in second position in the air, resembling a scissors. CONTAGION (RIPPLE): The repetition of a movement from one person to the next. CONTRACTION: A basic movement in the technique of Marth Graham, based on breath inhalation and exhalation. DEGAGE: In ballet, shifting weight from one foot to the other. DEVELOPPE: An unfolding of the leg in the air. ECARTE: In ballet, a position with one leg extended at an oblique angle while the body is also at an oblique angle. EFFACE: In ballet, a position of the body at an oblique angle and partly hidden. ENTRECHAT: A ballet movement in which the dancer repeatedly crosses his or her legs in the air. EPAULEMENT: In ballet, the position of the torso from the waist-up. FANDANGO: A lively Spanish dance in triple time performed with castanets or tambourines. FERME: In ballet, a closed position of the feet. FIVE POSITIONS: In ballet, the basic positions of the feet. First positon: feet in a straight line, heels touching. Second position: feet in a straight line, heels apart. Third position: one foot in front of the other, parallel to it, with heel of front foot in hollow instep of back foot. Fourth position: one foot in front of the other, parallel, but apart. Fifth position: One foot in front of the other, parallel, with heel of front foot touching toe of back foot. FONDU: In ballet, a lowering of the body by bending the knee. FOUETTE EN TOURNANT: A spectacular movement in which the dancer propels himself or herself around a supporting leg with rapid circular movements of the other leg while remaining in a fixed spot. GLISSADE: In ballet, a gliding step which usually connects two steps. EN HAUT: In ballet, a position of the arms above the head. ISOLATION: A movement separating one part of the body from the other parts (most common are rib isolations). JETE: Leap from one leg to the other in which one leg is thrown to the side, front, or back. GRAND JETE: A large leap forward. MINUET: A slow and graceful dance, the most popular dance of the eighteenth century, characterized by symmetrical figures and elaborate curtseys and bows. MORRIS DANCE: A English folk dance that appeared in the fifteenth century, in which dancers wore bells on their legs and characters included a fool, a boy on a hobby horse, and a man in blackface. OUVERT: In ballet, an open position of the feet. PAR TERRE: Steps performed on the floor. It is the opposite of en l'air. PAS DE DEAUX: A dance for two, usually a woman and a man. In its traditional form, it begins with an entree and adagio, followed by solo variations for each dancer, and a coda. PASSE: leg is raised with a bent knee with the foot placed on the opposite leg, just below the patella. This may be either parallel or turned out. PENCHE: In ballet, leaning forward. PIQUE: Stepping directly onto the point of a foot. PIROUETTE: A turn performed on one foot. This turn is done in place. PLIE: A bending of the knees in any of the five positions. Demi plie: a half bending of the knees, with heels on the floor. Grand plie: a full bending of the knees. POINT: A position on the tip of the toes. PORT DE BRAS: In ballet, the positions of the arms. PROMENADE: In ballet, a slow turn of the body on the whole foot. RELEVE: In ballet, a rising with a spring movement to point or demi-point. REVERENCE: A ballet bow or curtsey in which one foot is pointed in front and the body leans forward. ROND DE JAMBE: "Round the leg," the working leg draws a circular path. This may be executed on the floor or in an extended position. SPOTTING: The fixing of the eyes on one spot as long as possible during turns to avoid dizziness and to keep one's orientation. SWITCH LEAP: Swing one leg forward then back, lifting into a split leap. TOUR EN L'AIR: A turn while jumping straight up in the air. |
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