Adage, Adagio At ease or at leisure. It has two definitions:

1. A series of slow, graceful exercises during the centre practice.

2. The beginning section of the classical pas de deux. The ballerina performs slow movements with her partner supporting, lifting or carrying her.

En L'Air In the air. There are two expressions with this ballet term:

1. A movement is to be made in the air. For example, rond de jambe en l'air.

2. The working leg is to be raised to a horizontal position with the toe on the level of the hip.

Allégro Most dances are built on allegro; this ballet term is applied to all bright and brisk movements.

Arabesque One of the basic poses in ballet. It's a position supported on one leg (which can be straight or on a demi-plié) with the other leg extended behind.

The arms are held in various positions creating the longest possible line from the fingertips to the toes. The shoulders must be held square to the line of direction.

En Arrière Backwards. This ballet term is used to express a step moving backwards. For example, in glissade en arrière.

Assemblé 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. Both legs come to the ground simultaneously in the fifth position.

Assemblé en tournant Big assemblé, turning. The battement is at 90 degrees to the second position is taken facing upstage, then the dancer completes the turn en dedans and finishes the assemblé facing the audience.

Attitude It is a position on one leg with the other lifted in back, the knee bent at an angle of 90 degrees and well turned out so that the knee is higher than the foot.

En Avant Forwards. Used to express a step moving forward. For example, in glissade en avant.

Balancé Rocking step A slight adjustment of balance, shifting the weight from one foot to the other.

Ballerina A principal female dancer in a ballet company.

Ballet master, ballet mistress The person in a ballet company who has to give the daily company class and rehearse the ballets in the company repertoire.

Balletomane A ballet fan. The word was invented in Russia in the early nineteenth century.

Ballon Bounce. It's the light, elastic quality dancers should have whilst jumping.

Barre The horizontal bar fastened to the walls of the studio which a dancer holds for support. Every ballet class begins with exercises at the bar.

Battement Beating. A beating action of the extended or bent leg.

Battement dégagé Disengaged battement.

Battement fondu développé Sinking down, developed. This is an exercise where the supporting leg is slowly bent in fondu with the working foot pointing on the ankle. As the supporting leg is straightened, the working leg unfolds and is extended to point on the floor or in the air.

Petit Battement sur le cou-de-pied Small battement on the ankle.

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Battement tendu Battement stretched.

Battu Beaten. Any step with a beat is called a battu. For example, in jeté battu.

Bras Arms.

Bras bas Arms low or down.

Brisé Broken, breaking. A small beating step in which the movement is broken.

Brisé volé Flying brisé. In this brisé the dancer finishes on one foot after the beat, the other leg crossed either front or back.

Cabriole An allegro step in which the extended legs are beaten in the air. There are two types of cabrioles:

1. Petite, which are carried out at 45 degrees.

2. Grande, which are carried out at 90 degrees.

Cavalier The male partner of the ballerina

Cecchetti Enrico Cecchetti is one of the world's most outstanding teachers of ballet. He set up a system of passing on the tradition of ballet to future generations of dancers.

The Cecchetti Society was formed in London in 1922 to keep going his method of teaching.

Centre practice Centre practice is the name given to a group of exercises in the center of the room, without the support of the bar.

Chaînés Chains, links. A series of rapid turns (on pointe or demi-pointe) done most commonly in a straight line.

Changement de pieds Change of feet. The ballet term is often shortened to changement. Changements are springing steps in the fifth position where the dancer changes feet in the air.

Chassé Chased. This step is done in a series in which one foot chases the other foot out of its position.

Choreographer The person who has invented or composed a ballet or dance.

Coda This ballet term has two definitions:

1. The finalé of a classical ballet where all the principal dancers appear separately or with their partners.

2. The final dance of the pas de deux, pas de trois or pas de quatre.

Contretemps Counter beating. A compound step consisting of coupè dessous, chasse efface en avant, fermè, temps levè and chasse passé croisè en avant. It is a very useful step for traveling to the side.

Contretemps, demi - This consists of a temps levé and a chassé passé.

Contretemps, full - This consists of a coupé under, chassé en avant and a demi contretemps.

Corps de ballet The group of dancers in a company who dance altogether as a unit.

De Côté Sideways. Used to express a step that is moving sideways.

Sur le Cou-de-pied 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.

Coupé jeté en tournant A step making a three-quarter turn and a grand jeté en avant to complete the turn. The step is usually done in a series.

Couru Running. For example, pas de bourrée couru.

Croisé, croisée Crossed. One of the directions of épaulement.

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