BALLET TERMS

Barre – Cylindrical piece of wood that dancers clasp to perform ballet exercise.

Allonge – extended, outstretched, to reach in coordination with a breath.

Plié – to bend, a coordinated flexion at the hip, knee and dorsiflexion at the ankle joint. 

Relevé - to raise - a push against the floor that allows the body weight to move forward and up shifting the body weight to the metatarsal part of the feet (balls of the feet)

Sous-sus – Relevé when the feet are in fifth position Soutenu – sustained - is use to switch the working leg and sides during barre exercises. It can also be perform in center exercises in a continuous motion.

En Croix – in the shape of a cross (front, side, back, side)

Tendu – Stretched, brushing of the foot along the floor until only the tip of the toes remains touching the floor.

Degage – Disengaged or disengaging step, brushing the foot along the floor until the toes come off the floor to about 45 degree. 

Chasse – to chase/slide a movement where one leg chases the other, it creates a jump where the legs come straight together in the air.

Chasse en tournant – same as chasse but adding a turn while in the air.