DancingTips

 

These are some basic ballet terminology all beginning dancers should learn. Once these skills are understood and executed, try the more advanced terms. 

 

• Chaine (sheh-nay’)- A series of turns on pointe (on tips of toes) or demi-pointe (on balls of feet) executed in a line or in a circle.

 

• Air, en l’ (ahn lehr)- In the air. In the air means that a movement will be made in the air.

 

• Jete (zhe-tay’)-To throw. This is a jump in which the weight of the body is thrown from one foot to the other.

 

• Passe (pah-sey’)- A movement in which the pointed foot of the “working” leg passes (but does not touch or rest on) the knee of the supporting leg.

 

• Pique (pee-kay’)- Executed by stepping directly on the pointe (tip of the toes) or demi-pointe (ball of the foot) of the working foot in any desired direction or position with the other foot raised in the air.

 

• Pirouette (peer-oo-wet’)- A complete turn of the body on one foot.

 

• Plie (plee-ay’)- To bend. In the classic dance, this is a bending of the knees, with the knees wide open and the feet turned outward.  

 

• Port de bras (port, duh, brah’)- A movement or carriage of the arms.

 

• Releve  (ruhl-VAY)-To raise. To raise the body on one or two feet, either on pointe (on the tips of her toes) or demi-pointe (on the ball of the foot).

 

• Saute (soh-tay’)- Jumped or jumping.

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• Allegro- (a-lay-GROH)- Small; brisk and quick jumps.