Vocabulary and History Ballet Vocabulary and History

Ballet Vocabulary

Beginning Creative Dance Review Ballet A concert dance developed from the court dances in France under the reign of King Louis XIV (the Sun King).

Barre Turnout Plié: to bend A horizontal bar that the dancer holds for support during warm-up exercises. Most ballet classes start at the barre. Turnout The legs are rotated from the hip joint as far as the position can be maintained while keeping the knees and feet in line. Plié: to bend Demi: small Grande: large

Elevé/Relevé Tendu Dégagé Raised or to rise. Elevé uses straight legs, while relevé goes from demi plié Tendu To stretch or point. A brush of the foot along the floor until only the tip of the toe remains touching. Dégagé Disengaged. A small brush starting like a tendu, however the foot comes slightly off of the floor.

Port de Bras Battement Pas de Bourrée Chaîné Turns The carriage or movement of the arms. Battement To fully extend the working leg from the hip. Typically refers to a type of kick. Pas de Bourrée A transitional step involving three small steps. Chaîné Turns Turns done in a series similar to chains or links.

Chassé Passé Pirouette To chase. A jump where one leg chases the other. Passé To pass. A positing of the leg in which the working foot connects near the supporting knee. Typically used in turns. Pirouette Whirling. A stationary turn done on one leg.

5 Ballet Positions: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th , and 5th Sauté: To jump. Jeté To throw. A jump from one leg to the other. Piqué To prick. Can be done at the barre or is a type of turn. Tombé To fall. Typically a transitional step. 5 Ballet Positions: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th , and 5th 5 Stage Directions: SR, SL, US, DS, and CS

Intermediate Creative Dance Vocabulary Rond de Jambe: Circle of the leg. Sous-sus Under/over. A spring onto the balls of the feet into 5th postion. Soutenu A sustained turn usually done in 5th position. En Croix In the shape of a cross. Used to describe exercises done to the front, side, back, and side.

Adagio Slow sustained movement. Can be used to describe movement quality or a type of ballet exercise. Allegro Quick, staccato movement. Can be used to describe movement quality or a type of ballet exercise. Cambré Arched. Typically used to describe a type of stretch.

Fondu Arabesque Attitude Frappé: To strike. To melt or sink down. Simply a plié on one foot. Arabesque A position in which one leg is lifted behind the body with the arms held to create the longest line possible from fingertips to toes. Attitude A position in which one leg is lifted and slightly bent with the knee higher than the foot. Can be done front, side, or back. Frappé: To strike.

Glissade Fouette Pas de Chat Saut de Chat To glide. Typically a transition step. Fouette To whip. Can be used to describe a type or turn or a type of jump. Pas de Chat Step of the cat. A type of jump. Saut de Chat Jump of the cat. A type of jump.

Échappé Changement To escape. A type of jump. Changing of the feet. A type of jump.

History of Ballet

French Courts of the 16th and 17th Centuries Were performed by royals in banquet halls at large festivals. Were concerned with geometric shapes, rather than dance technique.

King Louis XIV (The Sun King) This person was a patron of the arts and founded The Académie Royale de Musique (now the Paris Opera). He was also one of the first professional dancers.

Marius Petipa French born choreographer who worked in Russia (one of the first to bring fame to Russian ballet). Created some of the most famous classical ballets in history including Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker. Stressed proper form and technique.

Mikhail Fokine Russian choreographer who created over 70 ballets including The Dying Swan and Les Sylphides. Developed a 5 step system for choreography.

Diaghilev Russian art critic and ballet patron who founded the Ballets Russes from which many famous dancers and choreographers got their start.

Ballanchine One of the most famous ballet choreographers of the 20th century. Co-founder of the New York City Ballet and often worked with the composer, Igor Stravinsky. Known for neo-classic ballet.

New York City Ballet One of the most famous and important ballet companies in the world founded by Balanchine and Lincoln Kirstein in 1948. Balanchine and Jerome Robbins were the founding choreographers.

Baryshnikov One of the most famous male ballet dancers of all time. Danced with many different companies including the New York City Ballet and the American Ballet Theatre. In recent years he has explored modern dance with his company, The White Oak Project.

First Position A documentary following 6 dancers on their journey in the Youth America Grand Prix ballet competition.

Swan Lake A romantic ballet originally choreographed by Petipa and Ivanov and composed by Tchaikovsky. The story of Siegfried and his love, Odette.

Jewels Originally choreographed by Balanchine, Jewels has been called the first full-length abstract ballet. Each of the three acts features the music of a different composer: Emeralds is set to the music of Gabriel Fauré, Rubies to the music of Igor Stravinsky and Diamonds to music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky