Ballet Dictionary (continued)
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Part of Odette's A to Z glossary of ballet terms.

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Odette's Ballet Dictionary!

Ballet Terms listed alphabetically:

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Manèges 'Circular'. This term is applied to steps carried out in a circle.

Mazurka or mazurek A Polish folk dance in 3/4 time which has been introduced into a number of ballets as a character dance.

Mime Using the face and body to express emotion and dramatic action.

Notation A symbolic representation of dance movement. There are currently two methods of notation - Labanotation and Benesh notation.

Ouvert, ouverte Open, opened. This may apply to positions, limbs, directions, or certain exercises and steps. In the French School it's used to state a position or direction of the body, similar to effacé.

Pas 'Step'. A simple step or movement which involves a transfer of weight. For example, pas de bourrée.

In the ballet dictionary "Pas" also refers to a dance performed by a duet. For example, pas de deux.

Pas de bourrée Bourrée step.

Pas de bourrée couru 'Running step'. A series of small, even steps with the feet close together. It can be done on pointe or demi-pointe, in all directions or in a circle.

Pas de chat Cat's step. The name comes from the similarity of movement to a cat's leap.

Grand Pas de deux Grand dance for two. It's different from the simple pas de deux because it has a definite structure.

The grand pas de deux separates into five parts: entrée, adage, variation for the female dancer, variation for the male dancer, and the coda (both dancers dance together).

Pas de quatre In the ballet dictionary this is a dance for four. The most famous pas de quatre in ballet history took place in London on July 12, 1845. It was a performance for Queen Victoria, with the four greatest ballerinas of the nineteenth century - Marie Taglioni, Carlotta Grisi, Fanny Cerrito and Lucile Grahn.

Pas de trois A dance for three.

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Likewise, a pas de cinq is a dance for five people; a pas de six is a dance for six people; etc.

Pas de valse Waltz step The step is like a balancé, but the feet do not cross. It's done with a graceful swaying of the body as well as various arm movements.

Pas marché Marching step. This is the grand, classical walk of the ballerina and the premier danseur.

Penché, penchée Leaning, inclining. For example, arabesque penchée.

Petit, petite Little, small. For example, petit battement.

Piqué Pricked, pricking. Expressed by stepping directly on pointe or demi-pointe of the working foot with the other foot raised in the air. For example, piqué en arabesque.

Pirouette Whirl or spin. A complete turn of the body either on demi-pointe or pointe. Pirouettes can be done en dedans, turning inward toward the supporting leg, or en dehors, turning outward in the direction of the raised leg.

The body must be well centered and the force of momentum is provided by the arms. The eyes stay focused at a fixed point which is known as "spotting."

Pirouette à la seconde Large pirouette in the second position, performed usually by male dancers. It is a series of turns on one foot with the free leg raised to the second position en l'air at 90 degrees.

Pirouette piquée Pricked pirouette. In this pirouette the dancer steps directly onto pointe or demi-pointe with the raised leg sur le cou-de-pied devant or derrière, in attitude, arabesque or any given position.

Plié Bent, bending. A bending of the knee or knees. There are two main pliés:

1. Grand plié.

2. Demi-plié.

Pliés are done at the bar and in the center in all five positions of the feet. In all pliés the legs must be well turned out from the hips, the knees open and well over the toes, and the weight of the body evenly balanced on both feet.

Sur les Pointes On the pointes. In the ballet dictionary it's also used in the singular, "sur la pointe." The raising of the body on the tips of the toes. There are three ways of reaching the pointe - by piqué, relevé or sauté.

Pointe shoes The satin ballet shoes used by dancers when dancing sur les pointes.

The first ballet shoes of Marie Taglioni were not blocked but were padded with cotton wool. Around 1862, the toes of the shoes were stiffened (blocked) with glue, and darned to give the dancer additional support. Today the toes of pointe shoes are strengthened with a box constructed of several layers of strong glue in between layers of material.

Poisson Fish. A position of the body in which the legs are crossed in the fifth position and held tightly together with the back arched.

Polonaise A processional dance in 3/4 time with which the court ballets of the seventeenth century were opened. The polonaise is a march in which two steps are taken forward on the demi-pointes and then the third step is taken flat with the supporting knee bent in fondu and the other leg raised in front.

Port de bras Carriage of the arms. In the ballet dictionary the term port de bras has two meanings:

1. A series of movements made by passing the arms.

2. A term for a group of exercises designed to make the arms move gracefully and harmoniously.

Porté, portée In the ballet dictionary this term means 'Carried'. It applies to a step which is traveled in the air from one spot to another, e.g. Assemblé dessus porté.

Promenade Turn in a walk. The turn can be done either en dedans or en dehors. In a pas de deux, the ballerina remains on pointe and holds her position whilst slowly being turned by her partner, who walks around her holding her hand.

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