GLOSSARY of DANCE TERMINOLOGY - January 1998 - Compiled by the Practice Committee

Oct 1, 2026

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GLOSSARY of DANCE TERMINOLOGY (January, 1998) compiles clear, instructional definitions of ballet and dance terms used in training and choreography. Entries explain tempo and quality of movement (adagio, allegro, ballón), key positions and gestures (arabesque, attitude, coupé, cou-de-pied), and common transitions and jumps (assemblé, brisé, cabriole, changement). It also describes classroom structure and technique foundations such as barre, center floor, fifth/first positions, and shoulder alignment (épaulement).

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

FormatPDF

Pages11

Reading Time17 min

AccessFree to download

Ballet

Adagio and Allegro

Positions and Gestures

Turns and Jumps

GLOSSARY of DANCE TERMINOLOGY January, 1998 Compiled by the Practice Committee Performing Arts Special Interest Group Orthopaedic Section, APTA Ballet adagio: A music term used for slow, sustained movements. The ‘adagio’ portion of ballet class may encompasses high développés above 90°, or partnering work. allegro: Rapid tempo movements, often includes jumping steps. Petit allegro includes smaller jumping steps. Grand allegro includes large expansive jumps such as grand jeté . arabesque: The gesture leg is extended behind the dancer’s body at 90° or higher, which requires hip and spine hyperextension, knee extension, and ankle-foot plantarflexion. arrière, en: To the back. assemblé: To assemble or place (the feet) together in the air (usually in fifth position) during a jump. attitude: The hip of the gesture leg is at 90°, the knee is bent, and the foot is pointed. Attitude croisée devant: the leg is lifted to the front. Attitude croisée derriere: the leg is lifted to the back. avant, en: To the front. Balanchine: Founder, director, and principle choreographer of New York City Ballet. Trained in the Russian school, he developed a neo-classical technique known for rapid footwork and abstract choreography. ballón: The quality of lightness, ease in jumping. ballotté: “Tossed”. A light, rocking quality, jump sequence. Ex: A jump from the point tondu front to the point tondu back. barre: The introductory / warm up portion of the ballet class, conducted while holding onto a ballet bar. The dancer always starts with the left hand at the bar, working the right gesture leg. beats: To hit the legs together, moving in and out of fifth position in the air. See petite batterie. Bourrée: A step performed on pointe from fifth position. Initiated with the front foot, there is a rapid weight shift from one foot to the other, performed in place or traveling. brisé: A jumping beat which allows the dancer to travel in a specified direction. cabriole: “Caper like a goat”. A jump where one leg is kicked up into the air and the supporting leg pushes off and beats underneath the gesture leg, propelling it higher. The jump lands on the kicking leg. cambré: A bend of the body from the waist to the front, back, or side, with an accompanying port de bras. Cecchetti Method: A school and style of ballet, originated by Enrico Cecchetti (1850-1928) in Italy. Emphasizes seven basic movements in dance: Plier (to bend), Étendre (to stretch), Relever (to rise), Glisser (to slide or glide), Sauter (to jump), Élancer (to dart), Tourner (to turn) . Used by the Italian and Royal (English) Ballets. center floor: The second portion of the ballet class, comprised of the adagio, turns, and small jumps (petit allegro) . chaînés: “Linked like a chain”. A series of small turning steps with the feet in first position relevé . Weight is shifted rapidly from one to the other limb with each half turn. Performed continuously in rapid succession. changement: “Changing the feet”. A vertical jump with a change of feet in the air (from fifth position front to fifth back) . chassé: “Chasing one foot with the other”. The leading foot slides forward into fourth (or side-ward into second), then with a spring off the floor, the stance limb draws up to it in the air, and the leading foot opens to land in fourth (or second) . Used as a traveling or transition step. cou-de-pied: A unilateral standing posture with the pointed gesture foot held in front of, back of, or wrapped around the ankle of the stance leg. coupé: “To cut”. A small intermediary step, used as a link between steps, such as jeté, pas de bourré, etc., using the cou-depied position. croix, en: “Cross”. Unilateral leg gesture carried out in three directions relative to the dancer’s front (en avant), side (a la seconde), and back (en arrière), making the shape of a cross. Typical barre exercises (tondu, dégagé, dévelopé, f

FAQs

What does “adagio” mean in ballet terminology?

“Adagio” is a music term for slow, sustained movements. In class it may include high développé above 90° or partnering work.

How are “arabesque” and “attitude” defined?

An arabesque extends the gesture leg behind the dancer’s body at 90° or higher, requiring hyperextension and plantarflexion. Attitude has the gesture hip at 90°, the knee bent, and the foot pointed, with variations croisée devant and croisée derriere.

What are “barre” and “center floor” in a ballet class?

“Barre” is the introductory warm-up portion performed while holding a ballet bar, typically starting with the left hand at the bar. “Center floor” is the next portion, consisting of adagio, turns, and small jumps (petit allegro).

Oct 1, 2026

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