Ballet Term Basics – Maxwell Dance
Ballet Term Basics – Maxwell Dance is focusing hard core on technique this year! Not just for our Performance Team dancers, but also our rec classes. Technique is the base for all good dance! Think taking Calculous before having Algebra as your base knowledge. We need to get these dancer’s their strong base! The season is about four weeks in, and everyone is truly improved SO much already. We can’t wait to show parents the difference and all the hard work. It will pay off!
Here are a few Basic Ballet Terms that our dancers will know:
- Tendu – Extends the leg along the floor keeping the toe pointed and only touching the floor’s tip
- Battement – Extending straight leg, brushed off the floor
- Plie – Folding motion of the legs; knees bending to change levels
- Releve – Raising of the body; “To Raise”
- Attitude – A pose on one leg where the extended leg is bent
- Chaine – A series of turns linked together (like a chain)
- Chasse – “To Chase”; on foot glides out while the other chases; a gallop
- Passe – Drawing up of the toes and the passing of the leg or foot from front to back or vice versa
- Arebesque – Standing on one leg with the other leg extended backwards
- Fondu – A plie on one leg instead of two; “molten”
- Demi – Half or small, knees bend with heels staying on the floor
- Grand – Full folding of the legs; knees bend and heels come off floor
- Pirouette – A spinning or turning step; a complete turn of the body on one leg
- Rond de jambe – One leg making a circular motion on the ground
- Soutenu – A sustained position in fifth or first
- Penche – A forward leaning movement in arabesque
Definitions found and summarized from: https://www.jorgendance.ca/jorgen-dance/the-ballet-terminology-library/
