What Are Some Common Ballet Terms?

Ballet

Ballet is a classical form of dance which originated in the courts of Renaissance Italy and has since become a globally renowned art form. Ballet requires grace, athleticism and technical skill, and dancers must memorize complex sequences of steps and positions. As a result, ballet has its own vocabulary made up of terms used to describe the steps, positions, costumes and other elements of the art form.

Plié is one of the most basic movements in ballet. It involves bending the knees while keeping them aligned over the toes.

The plié is used to transition between steps or to prepare for jumps. It can be performed in various ways depending on the style of the particular ballet being performed, from slow and controlled to quick and springy.

Relevé is another fundamental movement used in ballet. It involves raising onto the balls of the feet in order to stand on one foot or both feet simultaneously. Relevés are usually preceded by a plié and can be done with either straight legs or bent legs depending on what step follows it.

Pirouette is a spinning movement that requires great balance and control over body placement while rotating on one foot or both feet at once. The pirouette can be done with any number of turns (such as single turns or double turns) depending on what step it follows and how much space is available for spinning.

Grand Jete is a spectacular jump which involves a high leap into air followed by multiple consecutive leaps with alternating leg positions. This jump requires strength and coordination in order to keep control throughout its execution as well as good timing when transitioning from one leap to another without losing momentum or balance.

Port de Bras translates from French as “carrying of arms” and refers to any arm movement performed within ballet performance such as circling arms over head or sweeping them across body during certain sequences of steps. This is often accompanied by port de tête (“carrying of head”) where dancer must keep their head held high while performing port de bras movements

Conclusion:

Ballet has its own unique language made up of terms used to describe different steps, positions, costumes, jumps, arm movements etc.. Some common terms include Plié, Relevé, Pirouette, Grand Jete, Port de Bras etc… Each term has its own specific meaning related to some aspect of ballet performance making it easier for dancers to communicate specific instructions when practicing their art form.