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Dictionary of Ballet & Dance Terms
- Cabriole
- An allegro step in which the extended legs are beaten
in the air
- Cabriole, double
- a cabriole in which one leg strikes the other in the
air two or more times before landing.
- Cavalier
- The male partner of the ballerina
- Centre practice
- a group of exercises similar to those à la barre but
performed in the centre of the room without the support
of the barre. These exercises are usually performed with
alternate feet and are invaluable for obtaining good balance
and control
- Chaînés
- a series of rapid turns on the points or demi-pointes
done in a straight line or in a circle.
- Changement
- springing steps in the fifth position, the dancer changing
feet in the air and alighting in the fifth position with
the opposite foot in the front
- Chassé
- step in which one foot literally chases the other foot
out of its position; done in a series.
- Choreographer
- term applied to one who composes or invents ballets or
dances
- Choreography
- term used to describe the actual steps, groupings and
patterns of a ballet or dance composition
- Cinq
- five
- Cinquiéme
- fifth
- Classical ballet
- traditional style of ballet, which stresses the academic
technique developed through the centuries of the existence
of ballet
- Coda
- the finale of a classical ballet in which all the principal
dancers appear separately or with their partners.
- Corps
- body
- Corps de ballet
- The dancers in a ballet who do not appear as soloists
- Côté, de
- indicates that a step is to be made to the side, either
to the right or to the left.
- Cou-de-pied position
- working foot is placed on the part of the leg between
the base of the calf and the beginning of the ankle
- Coupé jeté en tournant
- compound step consisting of a coupé dessous making
a three-quarter turn and a grand jeté en avant to
complete the turn. The step is usually done in a series
either en manège or en diagonale
- Couru
- running
- Croise', croisée
- pose in which a dancer stands with legs crossed at an
angle to the audience. The disengaged leg may be
crossed in the front or in the back
- Croix, en
- the shape of a cross. Indicates that an exercise is to
be executed to the fourth position front, to the second
position and to the fourth position back, or vice versa
- Danse
- dance
- Danse de caractère
- dance of character, character dance
- Dedans, en
- inward - indicates that the leg, in a position à terre
or en l'air , moves in a circular direction, counterclockwise
from back to front. In pirouettes it indicates that
a pirouette is made inward toward the supporting leg
- Dehors, en
- outward - indicates that the leg, in a position à terre
or en l'air, moves in a circular direction, clockwise. In
pirouettes it indicates that a pirouette is made outward
toward the working leg
- Demi-plié
- Half-bend of the knees. All steps of elevation begin
and end with a demi-plié
- Demi-pointes, sur les
- On the half-points. Indicates that the dancer is to stand
high on the balls of the feet and under part of the toes.
Also used in the singular, "sur la demi-pointe."
- Derrière
- refers to a movement, step or placing of a limb in back
of the body. In reference to a particular step, the addition
of derrière implies that the working foot is closed
at the back
- Dessous (duh-Soo)
- Under. Indicates that the working foot passes behind
the supporting foot
- Dessus (duh -Sew)
- Over. Indicates that the working foot passes in front
of the supporting foot
- Deux
- two
- Deuxième
- second
- Devant
- in front - refers 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
- Développé
- is a movement in which the working leg is drawn up to
the knee of the supporting leg and slowly extended to an
open position en l'air and held there with perfect control.
The hips are kept level and square to the direction in
which the dancer is facing.
- Diagonale, en
- a step is to be done traveling in a diagonal direction
- Divertissement
- diversion, enjoyment; short dances calculated to display
the talents of individuals or groups of dancers.
- Double
- double
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