Adagio: A series of slow, fluid movements performed with grace and ease.
Allongé: Extended, elongated. Refers to stretching or lengthening movements.
Arabesque: A position where the dancer stands on one leg with the other leg extended straight behind.
Assemblé: A jump where the dancer’s feet or legs are brought together in the air and land simultaneously.
Attitude: A position on one leg with the other leg bent at the knee and lifted, either in front, to the side, or behind the body.
Balancé: A rocking step where the dancer alternates weight from one foot to the other.
Battement: A beating movement of the leg. There are various types such as grand battement (large beating) and petit battement (small beating).
Brisé: A small, beaten step where the dancer brushes one leg to the side, jumps, and lands with the legs crossed.
Cabriole: A jump where one leg is extended into the air and the other leg beats against it.
Changement: A jump from fifth position, changing feet in the air and landing with the opposite foot in front.
Chassé: A step where one foot chases the other.
Coupé: A small linking step done as a preparation or impetus for another step. It means “to cut.”
Dégagé: A movement where the leg disengages from the supporting leg and extends outward, usually off the floor.
Développé: A movement where the working leg is drawn up and slowly extended to an open position en l’air.
Échappé: A movement where the dancer jumps from a closed position to an open position.
En pointe: Dancing on the tips of the toes in pointe shoes.
Fouetté: A whipping movement where the working leg is brushed sharply either to the front or back.
Glissade: A gliding step where one foot slides along the floor before the other foot closes to it.
Grand Jeté: A large jump where the dancer throws one leg forward and the other leg back, creating a split in the air.
Pas de Bourrée: A series of small, quick steps usually performed in demi-pointe.
Pas de Chat: A jump where the dancer’s feet are drawn up and the knees bent, resembling a cat’s leap.
Pirouette: A complete turn of the body on one foot, en pointe or demi-pointe.
Plié: A bending of the knees while keeping the torso upright.
Port de Bras: The movement and carriage of the arms.
Relevé: A rise onto the toes or balls of the feet from a flat position.
Rond de Jambe: A circular movement of the leg. Can be performed on the ground (à terre) or in the air (en l’air).
Sauté: A jump off both feet, landing on both feet in the same position.
Sissonne: A jump from two feet to one foot.
Sous-sus: A tight fifth position on demi-pointe, where the feet are drawn together.
Tendu: A stretched movement where the working foot slides from the first or fifth position to the second or fourth position without lifting the toe from the ground.
Tour en l’air: A turn in the air, typically performed by male dancers, where the body completes one or more full rotations before landing.
Tour Jeté: A turning leap where the dancer jumps, switches legs in the air, and lands on the opposite leg.
Variation: A solo dance, often showcasing the dancer’s technique and abilities.
Waltz: A type of dance in 3/4 time, characterized by a flowing, graceful movement. In ballet, it often refers to the “waltz step.”