Demi-plié - half-bending of the knees.
Grande-plié - the full bending of the knees (the knees should be bent until the thighs are horizontal)
Tendu - Stretched. "Battement Tendu" the commencing portion and ending portion of a grand battement and is an exercise to force the insteps well outward. The working foot sides from the first or fifth position to the second or fourth position without lifting the toe from the ground, both knees remain straight.
Demi Pointe - on the half points. indicates that the dancer is to stand high on the balls of the feet and under part of the toes.
Pointe - On the points. The raising of the body on the tips of the toes. There are three ways of reaching the points: piqué, relevé, or sauté.
Dégagé - disengaged or disengaging step. A dégagé is the pointing of the foot in an open position with a full arched instep. It is not a transfer of weight.
Rond de Jambe - Round of the led, that is, a circular movement of the leg. Rond de jambe are used as an exercise at the bar, in the centre and in the adage, and are done á terre or en l'air.
en DeHors - Rond de jambe in the air, outward. Ronds de jambe en l'air commence and end in the second position en l'air. To start the movement the working leg is opened from the fifth position front to the second position en l'air, From here the toe describes an oval beginning with its backward arc, and finishing in the second position en l'air. The leg may then be lowered into the fifth position back, or the movement way be repeated as many times as desired before lowering the leg.
en DeDans- Rond de jambe in the air, inward. The working led is opened from the fifth position back to the second position en l'air. From here the toe describes an oval beginning with its forward arc, passing the knee of the supporting led, through the backward arc, and finishing in second position en l'air. The leg is then lowered to the fifth position front, or the movement may be repeated as many times as desired before lowering the leg.
Grade Battement - Large Battement. An exercise in which the working led is raised from the hip into the air and brought down again, the accent being on the downward movement, both knees straight. This must be done with apparent ease, the rest of the body remaining quiet. The function of grands battements is to loosen the hip joints and turn out the legs from the hips.
en face - opposite (the audience); facing the audience
de face - in front, full face. A position or step executed facing the audience.
Devant - In front. This term may refer to a step, movement, or the placing of a limb in front of the body. In reference to a particular step, the addition of the word "devant" implies that the working foot is closed in the front.
Derriére - behind, back. This term may refer to a movement, step, or placing of a limb in back of the body. In reference to a particular step, the addition of derriére implies that the working foot is closed at the back.
á la second - To the second. A term to imply that the foot is to be placed in the second position or that a movement is to be made to the second position en l'air.
definitions from: Grant, Gail. Technical
manual and dictionary of classical ballet. 3rd rev. ed. New York: Dover
Publications, 1982. Print.
Positions of the feet -
first position - the
balls of the feet are turned out completely. The heels touch each other and the
feet face outward, trying to form a straight line.
second position
- The balls of both feet are turned out completely, with the heels
separated by the length of one foot. Similar to first position, but the feet
are spread apart.
third position
- One foot is in front of the other with the of the front foot touching
the middle of the back foot.
fourth position
- The feet are placed the same as third position, but one step apart.
fifth position - With both feet
touching, the toes of each foot reaches the heel of the other.
photo from: http://web.georgetownisd.org/ngc/JohnsonLau/images/foot%20positions.BMP
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