Questions and Answers
What does 'adage' refer to in ballet?
What is an 'arabesque'?
Working leg is extended to the back
What does 'assemblé' mean?
To jump from one foot to both feet, assembling the legs in the air
Define 'attitude' in ballet.
Signup and view all the answers
What does 'balancoire, en' refer to?
Signup and view all the answers
What are 'chainés'?
Signup and view all the answers
What does 'chassé' mean?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the definition of 'coupé'?
Signup and view all the answers
Define 'croisé'.
Signup and view all the answers
What does 'dégagé' mean?
Signup and view all the answers
What is 'demi plié'?
Signup and view all the answers
What does 'développé' refer to?
Signup and view all the answers
What is 'écarté' in ballet?
Signup and view all the answers
What does 'échappé sauté' mean?
Signup and view all the answers
Define 'effacé'.
Signup and view all the answers
What does 'fondu' mean?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a 'fouetté'?
Signup and view all the answers
Define 'grand battement'.
Signup and view all the answers
What does 'grand jeté' mean?
Signup and view all the answers
What is 'grand plié'?
Signup and view all the answers
What does 'pas de bourrée' mean?
Signup and view all the answers
Define 'pas de chat'.
Signup and view all the answers
What is 'pas de cheval'?
Signup and view all the answers
What does 'passé' mean?
Signup and view all the answers
What is 'penché'?
Signup and view all the answers
What does 'piqué' mean?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a 'pirouette'?
Signup and view all the answers
Define 'port de bras'.
Signup and view all the answers
What does 'promenade' mean?
Signup and view all the answers
What is 'relevé'?
Signup and view all the answers
Define 'renversé'.
Signup and view all the answers
What does 'retiré' mean?
Signup and view all the answers
Define 'rond de jambe'.
Signup and view all the answers
What does 'en dehors' mean?
Signup and view all the answers
What is 'en dedans'?
Signup and view all the answers
What does 'à terre' mean?
Signup and view all the answers
What is 'en l'air'?
Signup and view all the answers
What does 'en attitude' mean?
Signup and view all the answers
What is 'saut de basque'?
Signup and view all the answers
What does 'sauté' mean?
Signup and view all the answers
What is 'sissonne'?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
French Ballet Terminology
- Adage: A series of slow, connected movements typically performed in the center of the stage, emphasizing control and fluidity.
- Arabesque: A position where the working leg is extended straight back, creating a long line from fingertips to toes.
- Assemblé: A jumping movement where the dancer takes off from one foot and lands on both feet, legs assembled in the air.
- Attitude: A pose characterized by a bent leg, commonly held in the air for aesthetic effect.
- Balancoire, en: Refers to a grand battement executed with a continuous swinging motion, moving front and back.
- Chainés: A succession of rapid turns while traveling across the floor.
- Chassé: Means "to chase"; a sliding motion where one foot chases the other.
- Coupé: Translates to "to cut," indicating a movement that transitions from one position to another.
- Croisé: A position where the body faces a 45-degree angle to the audience with crossed legs.
- Dégagé: Describes an extended leg that disengages from the floor slightly.
- Demi plié: A half bend of the knees while keeping heels flat on the ground.
- Développé: An unfolding movement that creates an extension of one leg into the air, first flexing at the knee.
- Écarté: Position of the body at a 45-degree angle with legs opened to the side in second position.
- Échappé sauté: A jump transitioning from a closed position on both feet to an open position, often turned out.
- Effacé: The body is at a 45-degree angle with legs open to the audience; can be performed in different positions.
- Fondu: A movement where the supporting leg bends as the other leg remains in the air, not bearing weight.
- Fouetté: A dynamic and quick whipping motion that can involve various turning and body orientations.
- Grand battement: A high swinging action of the leg, maintained without compromising the torso or supporting leg.
- Grand jeté: A significant leap executed with both legs extended.
- Grand plié: A full bend of the knees where the heels lift off the ground, except in positions second and fourth.
- Pas de bourrée: A transitional step involving three movements, usually back, side, and front.
- Pas de chat: A jump that resembles a cat's movement, involving bending knees during the transition from one foot to the other.
- Pas de cheval: Known as the "step of the horse," depicting a specific movement pattern.
- Passé: The positioning of the toe of the working foot along the inside of the supporting leg’s calf to the knee.
- Penché: A hinging motion from the hip while balancing on one leg, with the working leg in different positions.
- Piqué: A direct step onto the ball of the foot, often indicating precision.
- Pirouette: A stationary turn performed on one leg, showcasing balance and technique.
- Port de bras: Refers to the stylized movement of the arms, embodying grace and flow.
- Promenade: A movement that changes the facing of the body by lifting the heel and pivoting on the ball of the foot.
- Relevé: Rising onto the balls of the feet, optional on one foot; termed "élevé" if done without plié.
- Renversé: Involves a change in body direction with a specific leg movement and half turn executed toward the supporting leg.
- Retiré: A position where the working leg’s knee bends, touching the knee of the grounded leg’s supporting knee.
- Rond de jambe: Circular leg movement emanating from the hip socket, performed on the ground or in the air.
- En dehors: Indicates a movement or position that goes outward.
- En dedans: Refers to a movement that goes inward.
- À terre: A term meaning "on the floor," which can relate to positions or movements.
- En l'air: Translates to "in the air," highlighting elevated positions or actions.
- En attitude: Describes a position in attitude with flexibility in the supporting knee.
- Saut de basque: An aerial turn executed while leaping from one foot to another, landing with the second leg bent.
- Sauté: Meaning "jump," indicating actions that involve elevation from the ground.
- Sissonne: A jump taken from two feet to one, usually finishing with a closing action for the feet.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
Test your knowledge of French ballet terminology with this flashcard quiz. Each card presents a term along with its definition, helping you gain a deeper understanding of essential dance movements and positions. Perfect for ballet students and enthusiasts alike!