Glossary of Dance Terms

Arabesque: a move where the dancer stands on one leg with the other leg extended behind her at 90 degrees.

Attitude: a pose in which one leg is raised in back or in front with the knee bent.

Battement: a quick kick either high (grand battement) or low (petit battement).

Chaîné: a series of quick turns.

Développé: a move where the dancer unfolds her leg in the air.

Fouetté: a turning step where the leg whips out to the side.

Grand jeté: a large forward leap in the air that looks like a flying split.

Pirouette: a turn on one leg with the other leg behind.

Rond de jambe: a move where the dancer makes halfcircles with one leg.

Sauté: a jump using one or two legs.