Ballet Dictionary - Positions of the Feet - Key Terms and Positions

Oct 1, 2026

Ballet Dictionary compiles core vocabulary and fundamental movement concepts used in ballet classes. It explains standard Italian foot positions, arm positions (including port de bra and bra), and common exercises such as plié, tendu, piqué, développé-like tick-tock patterns, retiré, and grand port de bra. The guide also covers balancing, battements, sautés and variations, turning actions like chaine turns, and spotting techniques for controlling focus during spins.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

FormatPDF

Pages11

Reading Time17 min

AccessFree to download

Positions of the Feet

1st Position

2nd Position

3rd Position

4th Position

5th Position

Positions of the Arms

Bra and Port de Bra

Low 5th Position (5th en bas)

Middle 5th Position (5th en avant)

High 5th Position (5th en haut)

Core Knee and Rise Movements

Demi Plié

Elevé

Forced-Arch

Balance and Flat Back

Body Port and Leg Extensions

Grand Port de Bra

Tendu

Piqué

Tick-Tock Clocks / Développé-like action

Détiré and Retiré

Leaps, Kicks, and Traveling Steps

Grand Battement

Sauté and Echappé Sauté

Sauté in 1st and 2nd

Rocking Horse Jumps

Ballet Skips (Temps levé)

Chassé (Gallop)

Ballet Walks

Arabesque Skips (arabesque temps levé)

Turns and Spotting

Gingerbread Cookie Turns (Chaine Turns)

Bumble Bee Heads / Spotting

Ms. Lisa's Ballet Dictionary Positions of the Feet 1st Position 2nd Position 3rd Position 4th Position 5th Position Positions ofthe Arms Arms in ballet are called “bra.”When moving the arms from one position to the next it is called “port de bra.”Here are some basic arm positions. These are the Italian positions. These are the positions that your teacher will use. Low 5th Position: (5th en bas) Hands hold a nest. Thumbs are the Baby birds in the nest, they are sleeping. Make space between the elbows and The body for the mother and father Birds to fly into the nest to feed their Baby birds. Middle 5th Position: (5th en avant) Thumbs still in or down and arms In an oval shape. Arms create a“broken table.” This slant is for“line.” The line of the arm can be seen in the arms a re at an angle to the audience. The arms must have length to them. High 5th Position: (5th en haut) Thumbs still in or down and arms In an oval shape over the head. The Arms are not directly over the head, but they are in front of the dancer. The dancer can see the fingers above the head. Demi Plié: This is a bend of the knees. It can be done in all positions ofthe feet. The heels should remain on the floor.“Diamonds” Elevé: This is a rise up on tip toe. The Knees remain straight and you come down With straight legs too. “Elevators” Forced-Arch: This is a lift ofthe heels when You are in demi plié . “Gum on heels” Balance: This is done on one foot or two. Flat Back: Make your back flat like a table. Grand Port de Bra: This is a full body bend Forward and roll up. Tendu: This is a toe point or stretch of the Foot. The foot remains on the ground. Piqué: This is a toe tap on the ground. Knees remain straight. Tick-Tock Clocks: The formal ballet Term that is similar is “developé”. Touch your toe to Knee and swing leg out and in like a pendulum of a clock. Detiré: Take your foot into your hand and Straighten your leg if you can. Retiré: This is our “triangle”position. Our “throw your tear away” position. Toe touches the supporting knee. Basketball Hoop balance: Take leg behind you And grab foot or ankle with hand. Balance. Grand Battement: This is a kick. You can kick front, corner, or back. Sauté: This means to jump. Point your toes!! Echappé Sauté: Jumping from 1st to 2nd. Always begin and end in demi plié . Sauté in 1st: Jumps in 1st. Start in Demi plié and point toes in the air. Finish in a demi plié . Sauté in 2nd: Jumps in 2nd. Start in Demi plié and point toes in the air. Finish in a demi plié in 2nd. Rocking Horse Jumps: One foot front and one foot back. Rock forward onto front foot then Onto back foot. Ballet Skips (Temps levé): Just like a skip but leg is to the side. Chassé (Gallop): Step together step. Ballet Walks: Walking with your toe touching the ground first, then the heel Bumble Bee Heads or “Spotting”: Spin in place while looking At a fixed object in the room. | | | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Gingerbread Cookie Turns:
Formal term is Chaine Turns. Form body in a shape like a cookie. Standing on a line and flip to cook the other side of your cookie. Then continue to flip and travel the same direction. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Arabesque Skips (arabesque temps levé): Alternating legs (just like a skip) but your back Leg is in arabesque.

FAQs

What do the ballet terms bra and port de bra mean?

Arms in ballet are called “bra.” Moving the arms from one position to the next is called “port de bra.”

How are demi plié and elevé performed?

Demi plié is a bend of the knees done in all foot positions, with heels staying on the floor. Elevé is a rise up on tiptoe while the knees remain straight, coming down with straight legs too.

What are tick-tock clocks and how is the développé-like action done?

Tick-Tock Clocks is a formal ballet term similar to “developé.” Touch the toe to the knee, then swing the leg out and in like a pendulum.

Oct 1, 2026

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