STAGE 1 GLOSSARY

THE FRENCH TERMS ARE AS USED IN A BALLET CLASS AND ARE NOT INTENDED TO BE A TECHNICAL TRANSLATION

Students are expected to be able to combine movement and to have a knowledge of these French terms.

Demi - Half
Plie - Bend
Battement - Beat
Tendu - Stretched
Degage - Disengaged, disengaging step
En Croix - In the shape of a cross
Grand - Large
Retire - Draw up
Adage - Slow Movement
Port De Bras - Carriage of the arms
A la Seconde - To the second
Coupe - Cut/ to cut the weight of the body from one foot to the other
Chasse - Slide
Petit - Small
Jete - Throw
Saute - Jump
Changement - Change of the feet
Echappe - Escape
Pose - Step/place
Temps   - Leve Hop
Devant - Front
Deriere - Back
En Avant - Travelling forwards
En Arriere - Travelling backwards 

STAGE 2 GLOSSARY

Round de Jambe - Round of the leg
A Terre - On the ground
Releve - Relift or raised
Assemble - Assemble/Join together
Soutenu -Sustain/Hold
Fondu - Melt/ A bend on the supporting leg
En Dehors - Outwards
En dedans - Inwards
Port de bras - Carriage of the arm
Arabesque - Represent the shape of a bow/ a particular position
En l'air - In the air
Croise - Crossed
Ouvert - Open
Efface - Shaded, placing of the body, see dictionary for full indication
Ecarte - Large Separation, placing of the body, see dictionary
En face - Opposite/Facing forward
Passe - Pass
Pas - Step
Demi - Detourne - Half a turn towards the back foot
Allegro - Brisk movement
Glissade - Glide
Pas de Chat - Step of the cat
Soubresaut  - Sudden Leap
Assemble - Step assembled
Pas de basque  -  A step from basque country representing the swirl of the skirt
Balance -  Rocking step
Enchainment - Chain of Steps/ linking together of two or more steps
Changement - Change
Soubresaut - Simple step without change of feet