Foot Positioning. Arm Positioning

Transcription

1 Foot Positioning Arm Positioning Stage Numbering

2 Body Positions Arabesques

3 Ballet Terminology Use this handout throughout our study of ballet as a reference. Be sure to study these terms as well; you will be tested on these! Alignment Refers to the relationship of the individual body parts to another head, shoulders, arms, ribs, hips, legs, feet, etc. Arabesque (a-ra-besk) a position in which one leg is extended behind the body and one arm in front of the body. Assemblé (a-sahn-blay) assembled or joined together; a step in which the working foot slides well along the ground before being swept into the air. As the foot goes into the air the dancer pushes off the floor with the supporting leg extending the toes then both legs come to the ground simultaneously in fifth position. Balancé (ba-lahn-say) rocking step; shifting the weight from one foot to the other. Battement (bat-mahn) beating; a beating action of the extended or bent leg. Chaînés (sheh-nay) chains, links; a series of rapid turns on the points or demi-pointes. Changement (shahnzh-mahn) change of feet; springing steps in the fifth position, the dancer changing feet in the air and landing with the opposite foot in front. Chassé (sha-say) Chased; a step in which one foot literally chases the other foot out of its position. Cou-de-pied, sur le (sewr luh koo-duh-pyay) on the neck of the foot; the working foot is placed on the part of the leg between the base of the calf and the beginning of the ankle. Croisé, croisée (kmjah-zay) crossed; the crossing of the legs with the body placed at an oblique angle to the audience. The disengaged leg may be crossed in the front of in the back. Croix, en (ahn krwah) in the shape of the cross; indicates that an exercise is to be executed to the fourth position front, to the second position and to the fourth position back, or vice versa. Dégagé (day-ga-zhay) to disengage; a quick brush of the leg in any direction with the foot pointed. Demi-plié (duh-mee-plee-ay) half-bend of the knees. Développé (dayv-law-pay) to develop; movement in which the working leg is drawn up and slowly extended to an open position in the air. Devant (duh-vahn) in front; may refer to a step, movement or the placing of a limb in front of the body. Détourné (day-toor-nay) turned aside

4 Échappé (ay-sha-pay) escaping or slipping movement; a level opening of both feet from a closed to an open position. Effacé (eh-fa-say) shaded; the dancer stands at an oblique angle to the audience so that a part of the body is taken back and almost hidden from view. Emboîté (ahn-bwah-tay) a step, performed in series, in which the dancer stands on the toes with legs together and then springs up, swinging one foot out and around to the front of the other. Glissade (glee-sad) glide; a traveling step executed by gliding the working foot from the fifth position in the required direction, the other foot closing to it. Grand Plié full bend of the knees Jeté (zhuh-tay) throwing step; a jump from one foot to the other in which the working leg is brushed into the air and appears to have been thrown. Passé (pa-say) passed; foot of the working leg passes the knee of the supporting leg from one position to another. Pas de Bourrée (pah duh boo-ray) a sideways movement or transition step where the dancer steps behind, to the side, and then to the front. Pas de Chat (pah duh shah) step of the cat. Piqué (pee-kay) pricked; executed by stepping directly on point or demi-pointe of the working foot. Pirouette (peer-wet) whirl or spin; a complete turn of the body on one foot. Plié (plee-ay) bent, bending; a bending of the knees. Port de Bras (pawr duh brah) carriage of the arms; a movement or series of movements made by passing the arm or arms through various positions. Relevé (ruhl-vay) raised; a raising of the body on points or demi-pointes. Retiré (ruh-tee-ray) withdrawn; position in which the thigh is raised to the second position en l air with the knee bent so that the pointed toe rests in front of, behind or to the side of the supporting knee. Ront de Jambe (rawn duh zhahnb) round of the leg; circular movement of the leg. Sauté jumped, jumping Soubresaut (soo-bruh-soh) sudden spring or bound; springing jump from both feet and landing on both feet without a change in foot position. Sous-sous close, tight 5th position Soutenu to unwind turn, face opposite direction

5 Spotting this is a term given to the movement of the head and focusing of the eyes in pirouettes Temps levé (than luh-vay) raising movement; hop from one foot to the other Temps lié (than lyay) connected movement; transfer of weight from one foot to the other while moving through plie in 4th or 5th foot positions. Tendu (than-dew) to stretch; point the foot and stretch the leg as far as it will go with the toes still on the floor. Tour Jeté jete is done in all directions and in a circle usually preceded by a chasse.