FRENCH TERMS REQUIRED FOR GRADE 1 BALLET
FRENCH TERMS REQUIRED FOR GRADE 1 BALLET
Demi plié -half bend
Battement -beat
Tendus -stretch
En croix -in the shape of a cross
Grandes -large
Grandes battements en croix -large beats in the shape of a cross
Retire -draw up
Port de bras -carriage of the arms
Dégagé -disengage/point
Devant -front
Derriere -behind
A la seconde -to second
En avant -forwards
En arriere -backwards
De coté -sideways
Chasse -chase
Posé -step
Temps levé -hop
Petit -small/little
Jetés -throw
Petits jetés devant -little throws in front
Petits jetés derriere -little throws at the back
Saute -jump
Retiré saute en arriere -skips backwards
Changement -change
Allegro -brisk, lively. Jumping section
Adage -slow controlled movements.
Do you know your arm positions?
Bras bas -arms low
En avant -forwards (opposite tummy button)
En couronne -shaped like a crown
A la seconde -out to the side
Attitude -one arm above head and the other out to the side in seconde
Bras croisés -arms crossed, one arm in front of tummy, the other out to the side
Demi bras -half arms, presenting a bunch of flowers
Music Polka (a 1 & 2) Waltz (1 2 3) March (1 2 3 4)
FRENCH TERMS REQUIRED FOR GRADE 2 BALLET
All Grade 1 terminology, plus:
Ronde des jambe -round of the leg
A terre -on the ground
En l’air -in the air
En dehors -outwards (out the door)
En dedans -inwards
Assemblés -assemble
Soutenous -sustain
Relevé -snatch
Attitude grecque -greek attitude
Passé -pass
Chassé passé -passing chassé
Demi détourné -half turn
Jeté ordinaire -ordinary throws
Glissade -glide
Pas de Chat -step of the cat
Soubresauts -sudden leap/jump
Echappés sautés to 2nd -escaping jump to second
Balancés -rocking step
Do you know your alignments?
Croise – Crossed (to the audience)
Ouverte – Open (to the audience)
En face – Facing (the audience)
Do you know your music section?
Semibreves – 4
Minims – 2
Crotchets – 1
Quavers – ½
The pianist will play four crotchet beats on the piano, and then continue with any of the above note values. You need to join in clapping once you know what note value it is, and be able to name it when asked.