Ballet Unit Review

Bending of the knees (a)  

• plie
• tendu
• dégagé
• grand battement

"Big" Full bending of the knees

• grand plie

• tendu

• degage

• en croix

Half-bending of the knees

• degage

• tendu

• grand-plie

• demi-plie

Abdominal area (area from which all movement originates and the place from which the dancer works; if it is maintained, the dancers will be in control of efficient bodily motion with the absence of unnecessary or wasted movements)

• counterbalance

• center/core

• alignment

• spine

To rise (lifting of the heels)

• releve

• developpe

• enveloppe

• rond de jambe

Stretching of the foot (lift heel and instep as high as possible without lifting toe from floor)

• tendu

• plie

• degage

• rond de jambe

Rotation of the hip sockets (feet, knees, and hips are turned so they are facing on a diagonal line)

• turnout

• first position

• second positition

• parallel position

Off the floor; released (this movement is like a tendu, but it comes a couple of inches off the floor)

• tendu

• grand battement

• plie

• degage

Energy going in opposite directions (opposing forces)

• pull

• arabesque

• counterbalance

• releve

To cut; at the ankle

• chasse

• saute

• coupe

• passe