1. Ballet Terms

2. The Positions Fourth Position Second Position First Position Side View
Front View
Fifth Position
*Note: Third Position is rarely used anymore. Because of the high degree of turn out of today’s dancers, Third Position looks to similar to Fifth Position.
Front View
Side View

3. Barre A half knee bend with feet remaining the floor Demi-plié
Gran-plié
Port de bras
Relevé
Sous sus
Tendu
A half knee bend with feet remaining the floor
A full knee bend with heels off the floor
Set movement of the arms from one position to another
To rise up on the balls of your feet
A relevé in a tight fifth position
An outstretched position or action

4. Barre A smooth bending of the supporting leg Fondu
Ronde de Jambe
En l’air
Développé
Coupé
Passé
A smooth bending of the supporting leg
A circling or rounding action of the working leg
In the air
A sustained unfolding action of the working leg
A position of the foot, lifted & held flexed, against the ankle
A position of the foot, lifted & pointed, against the knee and turned out.

5. Barre Exercises https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8A6c7bkzmQ8
Watch this video of barre exercises and feel free to try along with the video!

6. Turns
Chaînés
Piqué
Attitude
Soutenu
A series of rapid turns on relevé done in a straight line or circle
Done with the supporting leg on relevé and the other pointed to the knee and turned out
Done on one leg with the other lifted back with the knee bent at 90 degrees and well turned out
A turn done in Fifth Position

7. Turns
Pirouette
Fouetté
A turn on one leg holding the other leg at an angle against the supporting knee
Turn where the raised leg whips around the body

8. Jumps Changement Glisside Jeté Gran jeté
Springing steps in Fifth Position where the back foot lands in front
A traveling step done by gliding the working foot from Fifth Position in the desired direction, the other foot closing to it.
Jump from one foot to the other
A big leap with both legs extended in the air at the same time and toes pointed

9. Jumps
Tour jeté
A high turning leap

10. Position supported by one leg with the other extended straight behind at a 90 degree angle and toes pointed
A beating action of the extened leg
The dancer “throws” the extended leg as high as possible, keeping both legs straight
Rocking step, shifting the weight from one foot to the other
Arabesque
Battement
Gran Battement
Balancé
Other Steps

11. To fall from one leg to the other, landing with all the weight on the foot that has just moved
Quick, even movements, often en pointe giving the impression of gliding
Quick sequence of movements involing plié and passé
A movement done from a closed position to an open position
Steps executed in a cirlce
An outstretched position or action
Tombé
Bourrée
Pas de bourré
Échappé
Manège
Other Steps

12. Helpful Website
American Ballet Theater