Dance Terms

Question 1

À la seconde:

Answer 1

“To the second position” or “to the side,” as in plié à la seconde or grand battement à la seconde.

Question 2

À terre:

Answer 2

“On the ground,” indicates a movement.

Question 3

Adagio:

Answer 3

“Slow tempo.”

Question 4

Allegro:

Answer 4

“Brisk tempo.”

Question 5

Allongé:

Answer 5

“Elongated.” An adjective used to describe poses that are stretched and elongated, like an arabesque.

Question 5

Arabesque:

Answer 5

A pose in which the dancer stands on one leg—either straight or demi-plié, and either flat-footed or en pointe—while extending the other leg straight behind at a right angle. The shoulders are square with the arms held to create a long line from fingertips to toes.

Question 6

Battu:

Answer 6

“Beaten.” A step in which one foot is beaten against the other foot or leg.

Question 6

Arriére:

Answer 6

“Backwards.” A move that indicates backwards movement or motion.

Question 6

Brisé:

Answer 6

“Broken.” Indicates a step where the dancer’s legs are moving one right after the other, not simultaneously but in succession. Usually paired with another term, i.e. brisé volé.

Question 6

Assemblé:

Answer 6

“Joined together.” A move in which a dancer brushes the toes of one foot along the ground, then brings both legs together in the air.

Question 7

Attitude:

Answer 7

A pose in which the dancer stands straight on one leg with the other leg lifted in back or front and bent at 90 degrees. The arm on the side of the raised leg is curved over the head, and the other arm is held to the side.

Question 7

Battement dégagé:

Answer 7

“Disengaged battlement.” A rapid back-and-forth movement of the non-supporting leg with the toes hovering just off the ground.

Question 7

Ballon:

Answer 7

“To bounce.” A light jump. Used to indicate the delicacy of the movement or jump.

Question 8

Chassé:

Answer 8

“To chase.” A triple-step pattern in which the feet glide together step-by-step.

Question 8

Cabriole:

Answer 8

“Caper.” A jump in which the dancer extends their legs out from their body and beats their calves together before landing.

Question 9

Chaînés:

Answer 9

“Chain” or “link.” A popular movement in which the dancer turns on both feet, bringing each foot up and back down in rapid succession that allows for quick movement.

Question 10

Changement:

Answer 10

The changing of the foot position mid-jump en l’air, or “in the air”.

Question 11

Coupé:

Answer 11

“To cut.” Used to describe a step in which the foot replaces or “cuts” the opposite foot.

Question 11

Croisé:

Answer 11

“Crossed.” The dancer’s body is diagonal to the audience, and their legs appear crossed.

Question 11

Derrière:

Answer 11

“Back” or “behind.” Typically paired with another pose or move to indicate a backwards movement.

Question 12

Dégagé:

Answer 12

“Disengage.” Pointing the foot in any direction with a fully arched instep while the dancer’s weight remains on the straight supporting leg.

Question 12

Devant:

Answer 12

“In front.” Indicates a move or position where the leg or arm is placed in front of the body.

Question 13

Effacé:

Answer 13

“Shaded.” Indicates an open position for the legs.

Question 13

Écarté:

Answer 13

“Separated.” A position in which the dancer faces one of the two front corners of the room. The leg nearer the audience is pointed in the second position or raised to the second position in the air. With the arm on the same side as the extended leg raised, the dancer turns their head up toward it and looks into the palm of the hand. The other arm remains in demi-seconde position.

Question 14

Developpe:

Answer 14

“To develop.” Moving one leg up to the knee of the standing leg and slowly extending it in the air, holding the hips square according to the direction the dancer is facing.

Question 14

Elevé:

Answer 14

“Elevated.” Rising up on the balls of the foot (demi-pointe) or en pointe; a relevé without a demi-plié.

Question 15

Échappé:

Answer 15

"Escaped." When the feet move from a closed position (first, third, or fifth position) to an opening position (second or fourth position).

Question 15

En l’air:

Answer 15

"In the air." Indicates a movement or leg position that is held in the air.

Question 15

En avant:

Answer 15

"Forward." A term used with a movement or step to indicate a forward direction.

Question 16

En croix:

Answer 16

"Cross." Indicates a leg movement or step that is completed to the front, side, and back in succession, with the leg moving in the shape of a cross.

Question 17

En dedans:

Answer 17

"Inward." A move when the leg moves circularly counter-clockwise, or "inward." This can be done on the floor (à terre) or in the air (en l’air).

Question 17

En seconde:

Answer 17

“In second.” A movement in the second position.

Question 18

Entrechat:

Answer 18

"Interweaving" or "braiding." Indicates a jump where the feet cross in front and behind each other in quick succession. The term is typically followed by a number that indicates the number of crosses the feet should complete, i.e. "entrechat quatres."

Question 18

En dehors:

Answer 18

"Outside." A move when the leg moves circularly clockwise, or "outward." This can be done on the floor (à terre) or in the air (en l’air).

Question 19

Fifth position:

Answer 19

The feet turn outward, one foot directly in front of the other with the first joint of each big toe extending past each heel.

Question 19

First position:

Answer 19

The heels stay together, and the feet turn outward in a straight line.

Question 20

Fondu:

Answer 20

“Sinking down.” A one-legged version of a plié.

Question 20

Fouetté:

Answer 20

“Whipped.” A whipping movement. It can refer to one foot whipping in front of or behind the other foot, or when the body whips around from one direction to another.

Question 21

Fourth position

Answer 21

The feet turn outward with one foot in front of the other, parallel and separated by about a foot. The big toe of each foot should align with the heel of the other.

Question 22

Frappé:

Answer 22

"Struck" or "to strike." When a dancer uses the pointed foot of the working leg to swipe (or "strike") the floor in quick succession.

Question 22

Grand battement:

Answer 22

“Large battement.” Lifting one leg in the air from the hip with the knee straight and the standing leg straight, then bringing the working leg down again without bending the knee.

Question 23

Ouvert:

Answer 23

"Open." Indicates a step, position, or move that is open. Another term for effacé.

Question 23

Grand jeté:

Answer 23

“Large throw.” A high jump in which the legs are extended to 90 degrees. It is preceded by a preliminary movement, like a glissade (a gliding step).

Question 24

Pas de bourrée:

Answer 24

“Step of the drunk.” A rapid move that begins in a demi-plié. The first leg extends sideways to meet the other leg in front or behind before returning to the original position.

Question 24

Pas de basque:

Answer 24

“Basque step.” The dancer stands in fifth position, then executes a plié with the back leg. Extending the front leg in a tendu, the dancer moves the front leg in a circular movement around to the back. They then transfer the weight to the working leg and finish in fifth position.

Question 25

Pas de chat:

Answer 25

"Step of the cat." A sideways jump in which the legs bend, one after the other.

Question 25

Pas de cheval:

Answer 25

"Step of the horse." The leg extends from first position to fifth position, then to a cou-de-pied. The step ends with the foot pointing to a tendu.

Question 25

Pas de deux:

Answer 25

A “dance for two,” or duet, in classical ballet.

Question 26

Passé:

Answer 26

“Passed.” A passing movement, in which one foot passes in back or in front of the knee of the supporting leg, or one leg passes the other in the air.

Question 27

Penché:

Answer 27

“Leaning” or “inclining,” as in arabesque penché, in which the dancer’s body leans far forward, with the forward arm and head low and the foot of the raised leg behind high in the air.

Question 27

Petit saut:

Answer 27

A small jump.

Question 27

Piqué en arabesque:

Answer 27

A movement in which the right foot is in front in fifth position, then the dancer demi-pliés and dégagés the right leg to step onto the point of the right foot, extending the left leg in arabesque.

Question 28

Piqué turn:

Answer 28

A pirouette where the dancer steps onto pointe or demi-pointe and raises the other leg in any position. Also known as piqué tour.

Question 29

Pirouette:

Answer 29

A complete turn of the body on one foot, either turning inward or outward, with the body centered over the supporting leg, the arms propelling the turn but remaining stationary during the turn, and the eyes “spotting” a fixed point while the head quickly turns.

Question 30

Plié:

Answer 30

Bending the knees in either a grand plié (full bending of the knees) or a demi-plié (half bending of the knees), with the legs turned out from the hips and the knees open and over the toes.

Question 31

Port de bras:

Answer 31

“Movement of the arms.” The passage of the arms from one position to another.

Question 32

Relevé:

Answer 32

“Raised.” A movement in which the dancer starts in a demi-plié and then rises up to pointe or demi-pointe on one foot or both feet.

Question 33

Retiré:

Answer 33

"Withdrawn" or "retired." Indicates a position with a raised thigh en l'air, and the knee bent and foot pointed. The toes should rest on the knee, either in front (devant), behind (derrière), or to the side.

Question 33

Renversé:

Answer 33

“Reversed.” The bending of the body during a turn, such as a pirouette, which shifts the dancer’s normal balance but not their equilibrium. The body bends from the waist, sideways, and backward, with the head following the movement of the body.

Question 34

Rond de jambe:

Answer 34

“Round of the leg.” A circular movement of the leg, either clockwise or counterclockwise with the working leg either in the air or with a foot touching the floor.

Question 35

Second position:

Answer 35

The feet turn outward in a straight line, separated by about a distance of one foot.

Question 36

Sauté:

Answer 36

"Jump." Any step in which a jump is executed.

Question 37

Sissonne:

Answer 37

“Like scissors.” Jumping from both feet onto one foot—except for sissone fermée, sissone tombée, and sissone fondue, which land on both feet.

Question 38

Soubresaut:

Answer 38

Indicates a rapid jump executed from both feet and landing on both feet.

Question 39

Soutenu:

Answer 39

"Sustained." A movement when the dancer turns en pointe in fifth position, landing on the opposite foot. The back foot should now be in front. Used often by the corps de ballet.

Question 40

Temps lié:

Answer 40

“Connected movement.” A combination of steps and arm placement based on the fourth, fifth, and second positions. It prepares the dancer to maintain balance and control while shifting their weight from one position to another.

Question 41

Tendu:

Answer 41

“Stretched,” as in battement tendu. One foot slides across the floor with the toes touching the floor. Both legs remain straight, and then the extended leg returns to the position from which it was extended.

Question 42

Third position:

Answer 42

The feet are turned outward with the heels placed together, one in front of the other.

Question 43

Tournant:

Answer 43

“Turn.” A term paired with a movement to indicate a body turn. For example, fouetté en tournant.

Question 44

Variation:

Answer 44

A solo in classical ballet.

Question 45

À la quatrième

Answer 45

One of the directions of body, facing the audience (en face), arms in second position, with one leg extended either to fourth position in front (quatrième devant) or fourth position behind (quatrième derrière).

Question 46

Croisé devant

Answer 46

Cecchatti.

Question 47

À la quatrième devant

Answer 47

Cecchatti.

Question 48

À la second

Answer 48

Cecchatti.

Question 49

Épaule

Answer 49

Cecchatti

Question 50

Écarté

Answer 50

Cecchatti

Question 51

À la quatrième derriére

Answer 51

Cecchatti

Question 52

Croise derriére

Answer 52

Cecchatti

Question 53

Lester Horton

Answer 53

Lester Iradell Horton was an American dancer, choreographer, and teacher. Born: January 23, 1906, Indianapolis, IN Died: November 2, 1953, Los Angeles, CA Education: Herron School of Art and Design Mentored Alvin Ailey

Question 54

Table (Position)

Answer 54

Inverted leg to the back

Question 55

Parallel 1st Position

Question 56

Flatback Back Bend

Question 57

Parallel 2nd Position

Question 58

Coccyx Balence

Question 59

Flatback Forward

Question 60

Middle Parallel

Question 61

Forward T

Question 62

Lateral T

Question 63

Triangle Sit

Question 64

Kneeling Stag (Position)

Question 65

Wide Natural Second Position

Question 66

Closed Egyptian

Question 67

Open Egyptian

Question 68

Diagonal Egyptians

Question 69

Lateral Side

Question 70

Deep Forward Lunge

Question 71

Primitive Squat

Question 72

High Parallel

Question 73

1st-3rd Positions