dance
dans/
verb
dans/
verb
- move rhythmically to music, typically following a set sequence of steps.
"their cheeks were pressed together as they danced"
synonyms: sway, twirl, whirl, pirouette, move
Basic Dance Terms
A
Arabesque
In ballet and other dance forms, arabesque is a position where the body is supported on one leg, with the other leg extended directly behind the body with a straight knee. The standing leg can be straight or in plie, but … Continued
Assemblé
An assemblé in classical ballet has many different variations, but the basics are always the same: two legs joining together in the air. In a basic form, an assemblé is when one foot slides along the floor before brushing into the …Continued
Attitude
An attitude in classical ballet is a position where the dancer is standing on one leg with the other lifted, usually to the front (devant) or back (derrière). The leg in the air is bent at the knee so that … Continued
B
Battement jeté, grand
Grand Battement Jeté is a classical ballet term meaning a “large battement thrown.” Grand battement jeté is often used in the russian school to better describe how a grand battement is “thrown.” Its the idea that the working leg quickly … Continued
Beats
A ballet dancer can make a jump more difficult by adding beats. Its basically the same as the french word “battu” which describes a jump as being “beaten.”
Battement, Grand
Grand Battement is a classical ballet term which means “large battement.” A dancer performs a grand battement by throwing the working leg into the air from the hip and brings it back down to a position, typically fifth position. While …Continued
Balancé
A balancé in ballet is a step where a dancer moves while alternating balance between their feet. The rhythm is usually in three counts like a waltz and has the motion of going “down, up, down” with their legs. Typically a … Continued
C
Cabriole
Cabriole is a classical ballet term meaning “caper.” In a cabriole, a dancer jumps in the air off one leg as the other is thrown upwards, as the bottom leg raises to meet and beat with the top leg, the … Continued
Chaînés
Chaînés is a classical ballet term that means “chains” or “links.” When a dancer is doing chaînés or “chaîné turns” What do Chaînés Look Like Chaînés or “chaîné turns” is when a dancer is performing a series of turns on …Continued
Chassé
Chassé is a classical ballet term meaning “to chase.” Chassé is considered a basic step and is commonly seen throughout ballet and other forms of dance. What does a Chassé look like When a dancer is doing a chassé, they have … Continued
Chassé en tournant
Chassé en tournant is a classical ballet term meaning “chase, turning.” This is when a dancer performs a chassé but does a single turn in the air as the feet and legs come together, then lands on the back leg … Continued
Coupé
Coupé is a classical ballet term meaning “cut” or “cutting.” A coupé describes a step where one foot cuts the other foot away, taking its place. Its usually done as an in-between step for a larger step, such as a … Continued
D
Dégagé
Dégagé is a classical ballet term meaning “disengage.” A dégagé is when a dancer moves their leg off the floor from a position with a pointed foot and straight leg to the front, side or back. It gets its name … Continued
Développé
Développé is a classical ballet term meaning “to develop,” or “developing movement.” A Développé is a movement where the dancer’s working leg is drawn up to the knee of the supporting leg and extended to an open position. As the … Continued
E
Échappé
Échappé is a classical ballet term meaning “slipping movement” or “escaping.” A dancer does an échappé with their legs and feet. Starting in a closed position, usually fifth position with the feet, the dancer slides both feet out equally into … Continued
F
Frappé
Frappé is a classical ballet term meaning “struck.” A frappé is a step almost always done at the barre as an exercise to improve quick and precise movement of the legs feet. To do a frappé, the dancer usually starts … Continued
Fouetté turns
Fouetté turns is a classical ballet term meaning “whipped turns.” A fouetté turn is when a dancer, usually female, does a full turn in passe (pirouette), followed by a plie on the standing leg while the retiré leg extends to … Continued
Fouetté
Fouetté is a classical ballet term meaning “whipped.” The term fouetté is used with others to describe different steps, however, it almost always describes the quick whipping action of a dancer’s leg or body. Fouetté as a jump For example, … Continued
Fondu
Fondu is a classical ballet term meaning “sinking down.” It describes both the movement and the quality of a dancer where they are doing a plié on a single leg. If you think of a plié being for two legs, … Continued
G
Glissade
Glissade is a classical ballet term meaning “glide.” It is a traveling, usually small, jump that is usually used to link other steps together. It can be considered an in-between step. A dancer performs a glissade by plieing in fifth … Continued
J
Jeté
Jeté is a classical ballet term meaning “throwing” or “thrown.” Though often used with another term, jeté usually describes a type of jump where the dancer extends one leg then jumps off the floor with the other. Many jumps are …Continued
Jeté, grand
Grand jeté is a classical ballet term meaning “big throw.” It describes a big jump where the dancer throws one leg into the air, pushes off the floor with the other, jumping into the air and landing again on the … Continued
P
Plié
A plié is when a dancer is basically bending at the knees. They are typically done in 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th positions in classical ballet, both at the barre and center in classes. Correct use and development of a … Continued
Pas de bourrée
Pas de bourrée is a classical ballet term meaning “beating steps.” A Pas de bourrée has many forms that mostly relate to the direction the dancer is moving or if the legs are bending or staying straight. It gets its … Continued
Pas de chat
Pas de chat is a classical ballet term meaning “cat’s step.” It gets its name because the step resembles how a cat jumps. A dancer does a pas de chat by starting in fifth position with the right foot in … Continued
Pas de cheval
Pas de cheval is a classical ballet term meaning “horse’s step.” It gets its name because a pas de cheval resembles how a horse pulls in its leg before kicking it out again. When doing a pas de cheval, a … Continued
Passé
Passé is a classical ballet term meaning “passed.” It refers to the movement when a dancer goes through a retiré position, which is when one leg is bent so it looks like a triangle with the foot placed near the … Continued
Penché
Penché is a classical ballet term meaning “leaning.” When a dancer is doing or in a penché they are usually bent forward over one leg with the other in arabesque well above 90 degrees. A penché’s arabesque leg can be …Continued
Piqué
Piqué is a classical ballet term meaning “pricking” and is a descriptive word to be used with other ballet terms. For example, a piqué turn would describe a “pricking turn.” It is meant to describe how a dancer transfers weight …Continued
Piqué tour (turn)
Piqué tour is a classical ballet term meaning “pricked turn” It is most commonly used as simply “pique turn” which is a very common step for female ballet dancers. A dancer doing a piqué tour, or piqué turn, will step … Continued
Pirouette
Pirouette is a classical ballet term meaning “spin.” It describes when a dancer is turning around one leg with the other off the ground and in a position, most commonly in passé. A pirouette can be done either en dedans, … Continued
Pirouette a la seconde
Pirouette a la seconde is a classical ballet term meaning a “spin with leg to the side” or “spin with leg in second position.” A dancing performing a pirouette a la seconde will be turning on their supporting leg with … Continued
Promenade
Promenade is a classical ballet term meaning “a walk.” A promenade is when a dancer turns around on one leg with the standing leg’s heel on the floor, while the other leg is in a position such as an arabesque … Continued
Préparation
Préparation is a classical ballet term simply meaning preparation! A preparation step is a position or movement in ballet that prepares a dancer for another, usually more difficult, step. One of the best examples of préparation is when a dancer … Continued
Port de Bras
Port de bras is a classical ballet term meaning “movement of the arms.” It describes how dancers move their arms from one position to another. For example, if a ballerina moves her arms from first position to fifth position, that …Continued
R
Relevé
Relevé is a classical ballet term meaning “raised.” It describes the action when a dancer rises up and seemingly is standing “on their toes” in a demi-pointe or a fully en pointe. Relevé is a ballet step that is taught … Continued
S
Sauté
Sauté basically means to jump. It can also mean to jump in a particular position. For instance, a sauté arabesque would mean to “jump in the arabesque position.”
Seconde, à la
À la seconde in classical ballet typically goes along with another term to indicate that it should be done with the feet in second position or the step should be done “to the side.” For example, tendu à la seconde … Continued
A
Arabesque
In ballet and other dance forms, arabesque is a position where the body is supported on one leg, with the other leg extended directly behind the body with a straight knee. The standing leg can be straight or in plie, but … Continued
Assemblé
An assemblé in classical ballet has many different variations, but the basics are always the same: two legs joining together in the air. In a basic form, an assemblé is when one foot slides along the floor before brushing into the …Continued
Attitude
An attitude in classical ballet is a position where the dancer is standing on one leg with the other lifted, usually to the front (devant) or back (derrière). The leg in the air is bent at the knee so that … Continued
B
Battement jeté, grand
Grand Battement Jeté is a classical ballet term meaning a “large battement thrown.” Grand battement jeté is often used in the russian school to better describe how a grand battement is “thrown.” Its the idea that the working leg quickly … Continued
Beats
A ballet dancer can make a jump more difficult by adding beats. Its basically the same as the french word “battu” which describes a jump as being “beaten.”
Battement, Grand
Grand Battement is a classical ballet term which means “large battement.” A dancer performs a grand battement by throwing the working leg into the air from the hip and brings it back down to a position, typically fifth position. While …Continued
Balancé
A balancé in ballet is a step where a dancer moves while alternating balance between their feet. The rhythm is usually in three counts like a waltz and has the motion of going “down, up, down” with their legs. Typically a … Continued
C
Cabriole
Cabriole is a classical ballet term meaning “caper.” In a cabriole, a dancer jumps in the air off one leg as the other is thrown upwards, as the bottom leg raises to meet and beat with the top leg, the … Continued
Chaînés
Chaînés is a classical ballet term that means “chains” or “links.” When a dancer is doing chaînés or “chaîné turns” What do Chaînés Look Like Chaînés or “chaîné turns” is when a dancer is performing a series of turns on …Continued
Chassé
Chassé is a classical ballet term meaning “to chase.” Chassé is considered a basic step and is commonly seen throughout ballet and other forms of dance. What does a Chassé look like When a dancer is doing a chassé, they have … Continued
Chassé en tournant
Chassé en tournant is a classical ballet term meaning “chase, turning.” This is when a dancer performs a chassé but does a single turn in the air as the feet and legs come together, then lands on the back leg … Continued
Coupé
Coupé is a classical ballet term meaning “cut” or “cutting.” A coupé describes a step where one foot cuts the other foot away, taking its place. Its usually done as an in-between step for a larger step, such as a … Continued
D
Dégagé
Dégagé is a classical ballet term meaning “disengage.” A dégagé is when a dancer moves their leg off the floor from a position with a pointed foot and straight leg to the front, side or back. It gets its name … Continued
Développé
Développé is a classical ballet term meaning “to develop,” or “developing movement.” A Développé is a movement where the dancer’s working leg is drawn up to the knee of the supporting leg and extended to an open position. As the … Continued
E
Échappé
Échappé is a classical ballet term meaning “slipping movement” or “escaping.” A dancer does an échappé with their legs and feet. Starting in a closed position, usually fifth position with the feet, the dancer slides both feet out equally into … Continued
F
Frappé
Frappé is a classical ballet term meaning “struck.” A frappé is a step almost always done at the barre as an exercise to improve quick and precise movement of the legs feet. To do a frappé, the dancer usually starts … Continued
Fouetté turns
Fouetté turns is a classical ballet term meaning “whipped turns.” A fouetté turn is when a dancer, usually female, does a full turn in passe (pirouette), followed by a plie on the standing leg while the retiré leg extends to … Continued
Fouetté
Fouetté is a classical ballet term meaning “whipped.” The term fouetté is used with others to describe different steps, however, it almost always describes the quick whipping action of a dancer’s leg or body. Fouetté as a jump For example, … Continued
Fondu
Fondu is a classical ballet term meaning “sinking down.” It describes both the movement and the quality of a dancer where they are doing a plié on a single leg. If you think of a plié being for two legs, … Continued
G
Glissade
Glissade is a classical ballet term meaning “glide.” It is a traveling, usually small, jump that is usually used to link other steps together. It can be considered an in-between step. A dancer performs a glissade by plieing in fifth … Continued
J
Jeté
Jeté is a classical ballet term meaning “throwing” or “thrown.” Though often used with another term, jeté usually describes a type of jump where the dancer extends one leg then jumps off the floor with the other. Many jumps are …Continued
Jeté, grand
Grand jeté is a classical ballet term meaning “big throw.” It describes a big jump where the dancer throws one leg into the air, pushes off the floor with the other, jumping into the air and landing again on the … Continued
P
Plié
A plié is when a dancer is basically bending at the knees. They are typically done in 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th positions in classical ballet, both at the barre and center in classes. Correct use and development of a … Continued
Pas de bourrée
Pas de bourrée is a classical ballet term meaning “beating steps.” A Pas de bourrée has many forms that mostly relate to the direction the dancer is moving or if the legs are bending or staying straight. It gets its … Continued
Pas de chat
Pas de chat is a classical ballet term meaning “cat’s step.” It gets its name because the step resembles how a cat jumps. A dancer does a pas de chat by starting in fifth position with the right foot in … Continued
Pas de cheval
Pas de cheval is a classical ballet term meaning “horse’s step.” It gets its name because a pas de cheval resembles how a horse pulls in its leg before kicking it out again. When doing a pas de cheval, a … Continued
Passé
Passé is a classical ballet term meaning “passed.” It refers to the movement when a dancer goes through a retiré position, which is when one leg is bent so it looks like a triangle with the foot placed near the … Continued
Penché
Penché is a classical ballet term meaning “leaning.” When a dancer is doing or in a penché they are usually bent forward over one leg with the other in arabesque well above 90 degrees. A penché’s arabesque leg can be …Continued
Piqué
Piqué is a classical ballet term meaning “pricking” and is a descriptive word to be used with other ballet terms. For example, a piqué turn would describe a “pricking turn.” It is meant to describe how a dancer transfers weight …Continued
Piqué tour (turn)
Piqué tour is a classical ballet term meaning “pricked turn” It is most commonly used as simply “pique turn” which is a very common step for female ballet dancers. A dancer doing a piqué tour, or piqué turn, will step … Continued
Pirouette
Pirouette is a classical ballet term meaning “spin.” It describes when a dancer is turning around one leg with the other off the ground and in a position, most commonly in passé. A pirouette can be done either en dedans, … Continued
Pirouette a la seconde
Pirouette a la seconde is a classical ballet term meaning a “spin with leg to the side” or “spin with leg in second position.” A dancing performing a pirouette a la seconde will be turning on their supporting leg with … Continued
Promenade
Promenade is a classical ballet term meaning “a walk.” A promenade is when a dancer turns around on one leg with the standing leg’s heel on the floor, while the other leg is in a position such as an arabesque … Continued
Préparation
Préparation is a classical ballet term simply meaning preparation! A preparation step is a position or movement in ballet that prepares a dancer for another, usually more difficult, step. One of the best examples of préparation is when a dancer … Continued
Port de Bras
Port de bras is a classical ballet term meaning “movement of the arms.” It describes how dancers move their arms from one position to another. For example, if a ballerina moves her arms from first position to fifth position, that …Continued
R
Relevé
Relevé is a classical ballet term meaning “raised.” It describes the action when a dancer rises up and seemingly is standing “on their toes” in a demi-pointe or a fully en pointe. Relevé is a ballet step that is taught … Continued
S
Sauté
Sauté basically means to jump. It can also mean to jump in a particular position. For instance, a sauté arabesque would mean to “jump in the arabesque position.”
Seconde, à la
À la seconde in classical ballet typically goes along with another term to indicate that it should be done with the feet in second position or the step should be done “to the side.” For example, tendu à la seconde … Continued