Ballet theory
Grade 1
- What does degage mean ? – to disengage ( when the foot is pointed but does not
lead onto another movement ) - What does battement tendu mean?- battement – to beat / tendu – to stretch
- Explain positions of the feet
- What are common faults seen in a plie ?- bad posture, sitting in plie, rolling of
ankle/knees,lifting / not lifting heels - What does port de bras mean – carriage of the arms
- What is petit jete?-petit – small / jete – to swish or throw
- What does a polka consist of –hop, chasse, coupe ,jete
- What is an enchainment?- several steps put together
- What is a temps leve? – a lifted movement with a hop
Grade 2
- What does assemble mean ? – to assemble, to join the feet together ( in the air)
- What is an arabesque?-a balanced pose on 1 leg with the other leg extended behind (
a terre or en lair) - What does retire mean – to draw up ( the foot up the leg)
- What does battement glisse mean?- battement- to beat / glisse- to glide
- What is a changement –to change position of feet in the air- draw feet together in
the air show only 1 foot change feet and land in a demi plie , heels on the ground - What does echappe mean – to escape, a movement of the legs from a closed to an
open position - What is a releve- a strong rise or snatch onto demi pointe keeping toes on the floor
- What is a pas de chat –step f the cat
- How far do we bend a demi plie? – until the thighs are horizontal
- What does glissade mean? – to glide ( keep toes on the floor )
Grade 3
- what is the height of a battement glisse ? – working foot just leaves the floor with a strong
accent - what is a soubresaut ?- a spring in the air in 3rd or 5th position without changing the feet on
landing - what does pas de bouree mean? – a running step, from an old French dance. There are 3
placings over and under – 5
th, 2nd, 5th - what is a rond de jambe? – it is a round of the leg. A terre it traces through all the open
positions 4th opp 1st devant, a la seconde and 4th opp1st derriere. - What is a pas de basque en avant? – a step taken form the basque country, – en avant –
travelling forwards - what does a glissade consist of ? – 2 degages put together with a gliding movement ; toes do
not leave the floor - what is a developpe? – it is an unfolding of the leg taken from the knee down
- what does battement frappe mean? – battement – to beat / frappe – to strike
- what is a balance de cote? – a balanced step set to a waltz time with accent on the first beat
( rocking movement side to side)
Grade 4
- what does fouette mean?-to whip
- what does temps lie mean? – time linked – a linking movement incorporating a transference
of weight. - What is a pirouette- a whirl/ spinning action performed on one leg
- What does soutenu mean? –sustained
- What does fondu mean? – to melt/ to bend on the supporting leg
- What does en croix mean – in the shape of a cross
- What does sur le coup de pied mean? – at the neck of the foot, a phrase used to describe the
placement of the working foot on the supporting foot - What does adage mean – a blen of slow and smooth, controlled movements that flow
together in a co ordinated way. - in a battement tendu – where does the beat come from ? –on the ferme(close)
- what does attitude mean? – a position where the dancer stands on 1 leg. The other is lifted
at an angle with the knee bent, the knee is higher than the foot.
Grade 5
- what is a demi detourne? – A half turn towards the back foot
- what is the height of rond de jambe a terre- the tip of the toe of the working foot is opposite
the hollow of the knee of the supporting leg - what does battu mean? – to beat a beating action of the legs
- what is an entrechat? To interweave or braid- a jump in which the feet cross and the legs
beat in the air. - What does quatre mean? – four- four interweaving actions – two with each leg
- What does en cloche mean? – like a bell
- What is a sissone? – a scissor action- a jump from 2 feet to one
- What does contretemps mean? – step danced against the beat of the music. – a full
contretemps is a coupe, chasse, temps leve, chasse passé. - What is a coupe – it means to cut- a transfer of weight from 1 foot to the other
- What does ballones compose mean? – ballones – to bounce/ compose – compound
Additionally :
Devant – in front / derriere- behind
Ouvert – open body alignment
Croise- crossed body alignment ( front foot is nearest to the audience)
De cote – to the side
Ferme – to closethe feet
En avant – to travel to the front
En arriere- to travel to the back
En dehors – outwardly / en dedans- inwards
En face – facing the front
Allegro – quick elevated movements ( jumps)