Arabesque - a position in which the dancer stands on
one leg, straight or bent, with the other extended to the back at 90 degrees.
Assemble - a jump from one to both feet, usually
landing in fifth position.
Attitude - a pose in which one leg is raised in back
or in front with knee bent, usually with one arm raised.
Balance - A step that rocks from one foot to the
other, usually in 3/4 time.
Ballerina - female dancer. Prima ballerina, or first
dancer, is usually used for one who dances leading roles.
Ballet - classical theatrical dancing based on the
danse d'ecole, the rules and vocabulary that were codified around 1700 in
France.
Battement - a beating movement of the legs.
Bourree, pas de - a
series of small, fast steps executed with the feet very close together.
Chasse - A sliding step in which one foot
"chases" and displaces the other.
Chat, pas de - Catlike leap in which one foot follows the
other into the air, knees bent; the landing is in the fifth position.
Degage - Shifting weight from one foot to the
other.
Developpe - An unfolding of the leg in the air.
Five positions - The basic positions of the feet. First position: feet
in a straight line, heels touching. Second position: feet in a straight line,
heels apart. Third position: one foot in front of the other, parallel to it,
with heel of front foot in hollow instep of back foot. Fourth position: one
foot in front of the other, parallel, but apart. Fifth position: One foot in
front of the other, parallel, with heel in front foot touching toe of back foot
Glissade - A gliding step which
usually connects two steps.
Pique - Stepping directly onto the point of a
foot.
Pirouette - A complete turn of the body executed
on one leg; the working leg is placed with the foot drawn up to the ankle or
knee of the supporting leg.
Plie - A bending of the knees in any of the five
positions. Demi plie: a half bending of the knees, with heels on the floor.
Grand plie: a full bending of the knees.
Releve - In ballet, a rising with a spring movement
to point or demi-point.