Ballet Terms Midterm Part 3

Feet Positions

Arm Positions

Plié = A bending of the knee or knees

Tendu = means "stretched" or "pulled" in French Tendu = means "stretched" or "pulled" in French. In ballet a pointe tendu is a pointed toe stretched and extended to the front, side or back.

Coupe = A changing of feet in which one foot cuts either in front of or behind the other. It ends with the new working foot pointed by the ankle.

Passe = when one leg is bent so it looks like a triangle with the foot placed near the other leg's knee.

Grand Battement = a movement in which both legs are kept straight and one leg is kicked outward from the body and in again.

Arabesque = a posture in which the body is supported on one leg, with the other leg extended horizontally backward.

Glissade = a movement, typically used as a joining step, in which one leg is brushed outward from the body, which then takes the weight while the second leg is brushed in to meet it.

Pas de Chat = :  a ballet leap from one foot to the other in which the feet are drawn up and the knees are bent so that the legs form a diamond

Sissone = a scissor switch of your legs Sissone = a scissor switch of your legs. Plie on two legs, jump high and land on one foot/leg then straighten.

Assemble = in classical ballet, a movement in which a dancer's feet or legs are brought together in the air and the dancer lands on both feet.

ChAines =  a series of short, usually rapid, turns performed in a straight line across the stage.

Pirouette = an act of spinning on one foot, typically with the raised foot touching the knee of the supporting leg.

1) Jeté = The literal French definition is “thrown” 1) Jeté = The literal French definition is “thrown”. In this jump, the dancer throws one leg up from the body in a grand battement while leaping from one foot on to the other. big ones are where the dancer appears to do the splits in the air. -Whereas- 2) Sodechat = leg is thrown straight in the air from a bent knee 2nd 1st