BALLET VOCABULARYMcCloud b2

FIRST POSITION

• Both feet are flat on the floor in the shape of a “v”

• Ideal first position = straight line (180 degrees)

SECOND POSITION

• Feet are flat on the floor hip’s width apart

THIRD POSITION

• Heel of the front foot is in front of the arch of the back foot

FOURTH POSITION OPEN

• Sort of like an open third position, the heel of the front foot is in line with the arch of the back foot

• Feet are your foot’s length apart

FOURTH POSITION CLOSED

• The heel of the front foot is in line with the toes of the back foot

FIFTH POSITION

• Feet are crossed with one foot in front of the other and toes turned out to the sides

• Ideal fifth = toe to heel and heel to toe

DEMI PLIÉ

• Half bend

GRAND PLIÉ

• Full bend

ELEVÉ

• To rise from straight legs

RELEVÉ

• To rise from bent legs

TENDU

• To stretch

DÉGAGÉ

• To disengage

GRAND BATTEMENT

• Large beating of the leg

• Remember to go through tendu and degage.

• Remember to use the hamstrings (the muscles at the back of the leg) to lift the leg.

EN CROIX

• In the shape of a cross

• The pattern of en croix is front, side, back, side

• Movements that can be performed en croix: tendu, degage, grand battement, sissonne, echappe, etc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RHE8jKkWDI

ROND DE JAMBE

• Rounding of the leg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-fYrgfn61o

EN DEHORS

• Outward

• Remember: This is a direction, NOT a movement. The foot goes from front to back.

• Two movements which can be performed en dehors are rond de jambes and pirouettes.

EN DEDANS

• Inwards

• Remember: This is a direction, NOT a movement. Th.e foot goes from back to front.

• Rond de jambes and pirouettes are two skills that can be performed en dedans

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8yGHRT6Gok

SOUS-SUS

• Under-over

SOUTENU

• Sustained

• A soutenu is performed while in sous-sus.

• Remember to turn into the barre!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rM_6YHpex_Y

CAMBRÉ

• To arch