Ballet terminology translation or origin from the
"Technical Manual and Dictionary of Classical Ballet" by Gail Grant
BASIC BARRE WORK
CONNECTING STEPS
TURNS
JUMPS
DIRECTIONS & POSITIONS
ADDITIONAL TERMS
The following barre exercises may be done in a different order depending on the school and additional exercises may be added.
Bend, bending. (Half & Big, large).
Stretch, stretching.
Disengaged, disengaging.
Round of the leg.
Sinking down.
Struck.
Big, large. Beating.
The following connecting steps may take place in a variety of exercises during class.
Rocking step.
Chased.
Beating against time.
Giving way.
Glide.
Polish folk dance in ¾ time which has been in a number of ballets as character dance.
Bourrée step.
Polka step.
Processional dance in ¾ time which court ballets of the 17th century were opened.
Connected movement.
Falling.
The following might involve a half, one, or multiple revolutions.
Chains, links.
Turned aside.
Whipped circle of the leg turning.
Big, large. Whipped. Raised. Turning.
Whirl or spin.
Pricked, pricking. Turning inward.
Sustained in turning.
The following includes petit, medium and grand allegro steps. Some of these steps may be done a terre, in relevé or en tournant.
Assembled or joined together.
Broken, breaking. Flown, flying.
Ball-like or bouncing step.
Tossed.
Caper.
Change of the feet.
Chased. Turning.
Cut, cutting. Throwing. Turning.
Escaping or slipping movement. Jumping or springing.
Fitted together, “boxed.”
Interweaving or braiding. Three.
Interweaving or braiding. Four.
Interweaving or braiding. Five.
Interweaving or braiding. Six.
Big, large. Throwing.
Big, large. Throwing. Developed, developing.
Cat's step.
Scissors step.
Butterfly step.
Fish step.
Royal
Basque jump.
Step of the deer.
Cat's jump.
Jumped, jumping.
Hopped, hopping.
Single or Double Turn. In the air.
Named after the originator of the step.
Sudden spring or bound.
Thigh movement.
Arrow movement.
Time raised, or raising movement.
The following terms may be directions for where or how movements can be done, in addition to positions of the body.
Extended, outstretched.
To the second.
To the fourth position back.
To the fourth position front.
On the ground.
Crossed in front.
Crossed in back.
Sideways (Garden side & Court side).
Under.
Over.
Separated, thrown wide apart back.
Separated, thrown wide apart front.
Shaded in back.
Shaded in front.
In a diagonal.
As at a riding school or in a circus ring.
In the air.
Forward.
Backward.
In the shape of a cross.
Inward.
Outward.
Shouldered back.
Shouldered front.
Closed.
Open, opened.
Carried.
Additional movements and positions.
At ease or leisure.
Brisk, lively.
One of the basic poses and takes its name from the form of Moorish ornament.
A pose derived by Carlo Blasis from the statue of Mercury by Giovanni da Bologna.
Arched.
Cut, cutting.
Developed, developing.
Low.
Like a bell.
High.
Shouldering.
A crack, as of a whip.
Horse’s-step.
Passed.
Leaning, inclining.
Little, small.
Carriage of the arms.
In a walk.
Withdrawn.
Raised.
Under-over.
On the “neck” of the foot.
Upset, reversed.
Reverence or curtsey.
Ballet terminology translation or origin from the "Technical Manual and Dictionary of Classical Ballet" by Gail Grant
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