Ballet is known as one of the most graceful performing arts and has a rich history to it. Its foundation lies in the unique terminology it has and understanding these terms will improve your comprehension and appreciation for it. Our guide for today will help you cover the basic ballet terminologies and meaning for beginners. This will help you gain insight into what these terminologies mean and what are their applications.

1. Plié (plee-AY)

A plie is the bending of the knees, which is a fundamental movement in ballet dancing. You can perform this in any position; it has two types to it:

• Demi-Plie, which is a shallow bend with heels that remain on the floor.

• Grand Plie, which is a deep bend with heels lifted.

These plies are what help the dancer build up their leg strength for jumps and turns.

There is no better time to start teaching your kid ballet than today. Ballet classes for kids at Melodica Music Academy are structured to help your child learn the foundational techniques. Our instructors will straighten those joints and tone those muscles just right to firm their base. Enroll your kid today at Melodica.

2. Relevé (rel-eh-VAY)

This means raised, which is rising onto the balls of the feet and toes. This movement gives strength to the calves and improves your balance to form the base for the Pointe work, a stage for advanced dancers.

3. Tendu (tahn-DEW)

This will translate to stretched, a movement that will extend the foot along the floor, pointed fully. This is used for refining alignment and foot articulation.

4. Jeté (zhuh-TAY)

The meaning of Jeté is ‘’Thrown’’, a leap with one leg extended outward while the dancer moves forward in the air. This is a foundational jump in ballet that showcases elegance and power.

5. Pirouette (peer-WET)

This is a spin or the turn on your leg which you will execute with balance and precision. A pirouette is often performed with an ‘’en dehors’’ (turning outside) or the ‘’en dedans’’ (turning inward).

6. Arabesque (ah-ra-BESK)

This is a position for ballet dancers where they will stand on one leg while the other one is extended behind them to create a long elegant line. Your arm positioning will add to the aesthetics and balance of this pose.

7. Assemblé (ah-sahn-BLAY)

This means assembled and it’s a jump where the working foot brushes into the air whereas the legs come together mid-air before landing in a closed position gracefully.

8. Chassé (sha-SAY)

Chasse translates ‘’Chased’’; a gliding step which is to chase one foot with the other. This move is used for changing or connecting movements in choreography.

9. Pas de Deux (pah duh DUH)

A Pas de Deux means ‘’step of two’’ is a duet that is usually performed by a male and a female dancer. This includes the lifts, turns, and synchronized movements to highlight their partnership and trust.

10. Rond de Jambe (rawn duh zhamb)

This is a movement meaning the ‘’circle of the leg’’ with the working leg tracing a semi-circle on the floor or in the air. This movement helps you to gain more hip flexibility and control.

11. Fouetté (fweh-TAY)

Fouetté translates to ‘’whipped’’, which is a dynamic turn for dancers to whip their working legs. This whipping helps the dancer generate the momentum to get multiple rotations when performed on Pointe.

12. Échappé (ay-sha-PAY)

This one translates as ‘’Escaped’’; a move, net where the feet will slide apart from the closed position to an open position. This is like moving from the first position to the second one.

Hearing all these impressive movements you might be feeling motivated to learn this amazing performing arts. So, why the wait? Why not join our ballet lessons in Dubai at our Melodica Music Academy where you will learn from the best ballet instructors? From everything to learning the right terminologies to developing your body posture for ballet; our structured lessons will help you progress much faster.

Conclusion

If you wish to understand and perform ballet dancing better, you need to first master the basics like these ballet terminologies. These foundational terms are the beginning of your ballet journey. Mastering them will allow you to gain precision, expression, and confidence for a stage performance. No matter your skill level, beginner or advanced, ballet has a single language to connect you with its rich legacy of technique and grace.