- ADAGE (AH-DAZH).
- The French term for the Italian ad agio(literally, at ease or leisure). 1. The generic for a series of exercises involving
the movements performed to a slow musical tempo, utilizing developpes in all positions, liine poses such as arabesques
and attitudes, graceful movements, and controlled pirouettes.
- AIR, EN L' (AHN LAIR).
- In the air. 1. A movement made in the air.
- ALLEGRO (AH-LEH-GRO).
- The generic term applied to all light and lively springing movements performed to a brisk, lively musical tempo.
- ARABESQUE (AH-RAH-BESK).
- Among the ancient Moors and Greeks, arabesque was a name given to an ornament of fantastic and geometric design. In ballet, the
name has been given to one of the basic poses to express the grace and charm of geometric design.
- ARRIERE, EN (AHN-NAH-REE-AIR).
- Backward. Indicates that a step is taken backward, as in pique en ariere.
- ARRONDI (AH-ROHN-DEE).
- Rounded, curved, as in bras arrondi.
- ATTITUDE (AH-TEE-TIUD).
- A term derived from the Italian attitudine, meaning "a way of holding the body."
- AVANT, EN (AHN-NAH-VAHN).
- Forward: used to indicate that a step moves forward.
- BALANCE, PAS (PAH BAH-LAHN-SAY).
- Step rocked, or rocking step.
- BALANCOIRE, EN (AHN BAH-LAHN-SWAHR).
- Like a seesaw.
- BALLON (BAH-LOHN).
- Ball; bounciness.
- BALLOTTE, PAS (PAH BAH-LOH-TAY)
- Tossed step.
- BARRE (BAHR).
- Bar.
- BAS, EN (AHN BAH).
- Low.
- BATTEMENT (BAHT-MAHN).
- Beating.
- BATTERIE (BAH-TREE).
- Battery.
- BRAS (BRAH).
- Arm.
- BRAVURA (BRAH-VOO-RAH).
- With spirit and boldness of execution.
- BRISE, PAS (PAY BREE-ZAY).
- Step broken.
- BRISE VOLE, PAS (PAH BREE-ZAY VOH-LAY).
- Breaking step flying.
- CABRIOLE (KAH-BREE-OHL).
- Caper, derived form the Italian capriola, a goatlike leap.
- CAMBRE (KAHN-BRAY).
- Arched. The backward or sideways bending of the body from the waist.
- CARRE, EN (AHN KAH-RAY).
- In the shape of a square.
- CECCHETTI METHOD (CHEH-KEH-TEE).
- A system of teaching devised by students of Maestro Enrico Cecchetti
- CHAINES, TOURS (TOOR SHEH-NAY).
- Chains; links.
- CHANGEMENT BATTU (SHAHNZH-MAHN BAH-TIU).
- Beaten change.
- CHANGEMENT DE PIEDS (SHAHNSH-MAHN DIH PEE-AY).
- Change of feet.
- CHASSE, PAS (PAY SHAY-SAY).
- Chasing step.
- CINQ (SANK).
- Five.
- CINQUIEME (SAN-KYEM).
- Fifth.
- CISEAUX, PAS DE (PAH DIH SEEZOH).
- Scissors step.
- CLOCHE, EN (AHN KLOOSH).
- Like a bell.
- COLLE (KLH-LAY).
- Glued.
- COMPOSE, PAS (PAH KOHN-POH-ZAY).
- Composed step consisting of several movements or steps.
- COTE, DE (DIH KOH-TAY).
- Sideways.
- COU-DE-PIED (KOO-DIH-PEE-AY).
- Neck of the foot.
- COUPE (KOO-PAY).
- Cut; cutting.
- COUPE, PAS (PAH KOO-PAY).
- Cutting step.
- COURONNE, EN (AHN KOO-ROHN).
- In the shape of a crown.
- COURU (KOO-RIU).
- Running.
- CROISE (KRWAH-ZAY).
- Crossed.
- CROIX, EN (AHN KRWAH).
- In the shape of a cross.
- DEBOITE, PAS (PAH DEH-BWAH-TAY).
- Disjoined step.
- DEBOULES (DAY-BOO-LAY).
- Rolling like a ball.
- DEDANS, EN (AHN DIH-DAHN).
- Used to indicate movement originates in the back and circles toward the front.
- DEGAGE, PAS (PAH DAY-GAH-ZHAY).
- Disengaged step.
- DEHORS, EN (AHN DIH-OHR).
- Used to indicate movement originates in the front and circles toward the back.
- DEMI (D'MEE).
- Half.
- DEMI-BRAS (D'MEE-BRAH).
- Half arms at the halfway position.
- DEMI-PLIE (D'MEE-PLEE-AY).
- A half bending of the knees.
- DEROULE (DAY-ROO-LAY).
- Unwound; unwinding.
- DERRIERE (DIH-REE-AIR).
- Behind.
- DESSOUS (DIH-SOO).
- Under.
- DESSUS (DIH-SIU).
- Over.
- DEUX (DUH).
- Two.
- DEUXIEME (DUH-ZYEM).
- Second.
- DEVANT (DIH-VAHN).
- In front.
- DIAGONALE, EN (AHN DYA-GOH-NAHL).
- In diagonal.
- DOS A DOS (DOH-ZA-DOH).
- Back to back.
- DROITE, A (AH DRWAHT).
- To the right.
- ECARTE (AY-KAR-TAY).
- Separated; thrown wide apart.
- EFFACE (EH-FAH-SAY).
- Shaded.
- ELANCE (AY-LAHN-SAY).
- Darted; darting.
- EMBOITE, PAS (PAH-ZAHN-BWAH-TAY).
- Boxed-in step.
- ENLEVEMENT (AHN-LEHV-MAHN).
- Carrying or lifting.
- ENSEMBLE (AHN-SAHN-BLIH).
- Whole.
- ENTREE (AHN-TRAY).
- Entrance.
- EPAULE (AY-POH-LAY).
- Shouldered.
- ETENDRE (AY-TAHN-DRIH).
- To stretch.
- FACE, DE (DIH-FAHS).
- Facing.
- FERMEFAIR-MAY).
- Closed.
- FILER (FEE-LAY).
- To spin.
- FLECHIR (FLAY-SHEER).
- To bend.
- FLIC-FLAC (FLIHK-FLAHK).
- A compound step composed of three whipping, or lashing, movements of the leg.
- FONDU (FOHN-DIU).
- Sinking down.
- FOUETTE (FWEH-TAY).
- Whipped.
- FRAPPE (FRAH-PAY).
- Striking.
- GAUCHE, A (AH GOHSH).
- To the left.
- GENOU (ZHNOO).
- Knee.
- GLISSADE (GLEE-SAHD).
- To glide.
- GLISSE (GLEE-SAY).
- Glided or gliding.
- GRAND (GRAHN).
- Big; large; wide; deep.
- HAUT, EN (AHN-NOH).
- High.
- INCLINE (AN-KLEE-NAY).
- Inclined.
- JETE, PAS (PAH ZHEH-TAY).
- Step thrown.
- LECON (LEH-SOHN).
- Lesson.
- LEOTARD (LEE-OH-TARD).
- Tightly fitting one-piece garment covering the body from the neck to the thighs, worn for ballet practice and on stage.
- LIGNE (LEEN-YIH).
- Line.
- MAILLOT (MI-YOH).
- Tights.
- MAIN (MAN).
- Hand.
- MARQUER (MAHR-KAY).
- To mark the accents in a step.
- MILIEU, AU (OH-MEE-LYIU).
- In the middle.
- OUVERT (OO-VAIR).
- Opened.
- PAR TERRE (PAHR TAIR).
- On the ground.
- PAS (PAH).
- Step.
- PASSE (PAH-SAY).
- Passed.
- PENCHE (PAHN-SHAY).
- Leaning.
- PETIT (P'TEE).
- Small.
- PETITS TOURS (P'TEE TOOR).
- Small turns.
- PIETINER (PEE-AY-TIH-NAY).
- To stamp the feet.
- PIQUE (PEE-KAY).
- A step in which the body shoots sharply in any given direction and the step is made directly to the pointe
or demi-pointe of the supporting foot, with the other foot being raised in any desired position.
- PIROUETTE (PEER-OO-WET).
- Whirl.
- PLIE (PLEE-AY).
- Bent; bending.
- PORT DE BRAS (POR DIH BRAH).
- Carriage of the arms.
- PORTE (POR-TAY).
- Carried.
- QUATRE (KAH-TRIH).
- Four.
- QUARTRIEME (KAH-TREE-EHM).
- Fourth.
- RAMASSE (RAH-MAH-SAY).
- Picked up.
- RECULANT, EN (AHN RIH-KIU-LAHN).
- Drawing back.
- RELEVE (RIH-LEH-VAY).
- To indicate that the body is raised to the full point or half point during the execution of a step or movement.
- REMONTANT, EN (AHN RIH-MOHN-TAHN).
- Going up.
- REPETER (RAY-PAY-TAY).
- To repeat.
- ROND, EN (AHN ROHN).
- In a circle.
- SAUTE (SOH-TAY).
- Jumped; jumping.
- SERRE (SEH-RAY).
- Close; compact; tight; concise.
- SOUBRESAUT (SOO-BRIH-SOH).
- Sudden jump, jolt, or jerk.
- SUITE, DE (DIH SWEET).
- Continuously.
- TEMPS (TAHN).
- Time.
- TENDU (TAHN-DIU).
- Stretched.
- TERMINE (TAIR-MEE-NAY).
- Ended or concluded.
- TERRE, A (AH TAIR).
- On the ground.
- TETE (TEHT).
- Head.
- TOMBANT (TOHN-BAY).
- Falling down.
- TOUR (TOOR).
- Turn.
- TUTU (TIU-TIU).
- A ballet skirt worn by a ballet dancer.
- UN (UHN).
- One.
- VOLE (VOH-LAY).
- Flown; flying.
