| ABSTRACT: |
To
take the essence or essential meaning of an idea rather than a literal
imitation. |
| ACCENT: |
An increase in stress,
emphasis, or intensity within movement count. |
| ALIGNMENT: |
Placement
of body parts. |
| ALLEGRO: |
A fast lively tempo. |
| ARABESQUE: |
One leg
supports the body, other leg is extended behind body. |
| ASSEMBLE: |
(ah-sahn-BLAY) Taking off
from one foot and landing on two (both) feet. |
| ASYMMETRICAL: |
Not
balanced in the conventional sense of exact correspondence or balanced
proportion. |
| ATTITUDE: |
(ah-tee-TEWD) A position on
one leg, the free leg is lifted in a forward, sideward, or backward
direction with the knee bent at an angle and higher than the foot. |
| AXIAL: |
A movement
around a stationary axis, non-locomotor or staying in one place. |
|
| BALANCE: |
(ba-lahn-SAY)
A step starting in first of fifth position; leap lightly to one side
landing in demi-plie’. |
| BALL
CHANGE: |
A quick
transfer of weight from one foot to another. |
| BATTEMENT: |
(bat-MAHN) A controlled
movement of the leg in which a straight leg is lifted from the hip and
returned to the floor. |
| BEAT: |
The basic
unit of a rhythmic measure. |
| BODY
WAVE: |
A sequential movement of the
body starting with the knees and moving through the hips, abdominal,
chest, and head. |
|
| CAMEL
WALK: |
Pedaled
movement. Roll up to the ball of one foot, transfer weight to the
other foot, the knee is bent. |
| CHASSE': |
(sha-SAY) A gliding movement
(step, close, step). |
| CHANGEMENT: |
(shahnzh-MAHN)
A scissor-like action of the legs where the feet change position. |
| CHOREOGRAPH: |
To make up or create a dance
or combinations. |
| CHOREOGRAPHER: |
Person who
creates combinations or entire dances. |
| CHOREOGRAPHY: |
The composition of a dance. |
| COLLAPSE: |
A sinking
movement involving the release of tension as a whole. |
| CONTAGION: |
A ripple action; movement is
passed from one dancer to another. |
| CONTRACTION: |
A muscular
tension that produces a shortening of body parts |
| COUPE’: |
(koo-PAY) A small
intermediary step done as a preparation or impetus for some other step. |
|
| DANCE
HANDS: |
Hands
soft--pretend to hold an egg with the thumb and middle finger. |
| DEGAGE’
: |
(day-ga-ZHAY) Passing through
the tendu position, the foot slightly disengages from the floor. |
| DEMI: |
Means small
movement. |
| DEVELOPPE’: |
(dayv-law-PAY) A movement in
which the working leg is drawn up then extended. It can be done in any
direction. |
| DIAGONAL: |
Three or
more girls lined at an angle. |
| DIG: |
Step without weight transfer. |
| DIMENSION: |
The
relative size of movement or of the space. |
| DOUBLE
STAG: |
A leap with both legs in a
bent position. |
| DOWNSTAGE: |
A direction
to indicate movement toward the audience. |
| DYNAMICS: |
Shading in the amounts of
energy, intensity of power; subtle variations in the treatment of
movement contrasts. |
|
| ELEVE’: |
(ay-LEV)
A gradual rising onto the balls of the feet, a controlled rise. |
| EXTENSION: |
An elongation or lengthening
of the body or any of its parts. |
|
| FAN
KICK: |
Straight
leg kick which crosses in front of the supporting leg and circles around
to other direction . A lift kick circling 360 degrees. |
| FLEA
HOP: |
Sliding hop directly to the
side. |
| FLEX
KICK: |
A kick
which the foot passes the supporting knee first and then fully develops until the leg is straightened. |
| FLEXED
FEET: |
Ankles in a flexed position
so that the toes are pulled back toward the body. |
| FLEXION: |
A bending
movement; a contraction of muscles around a joint that brings two body
parts closer together. |
| FLOOR
PATTERN: |
A imaginary line of path in
space taken by the dancer as they move from place to place. |
| FOCUS: |
The
Concentration on a fixed or moving point in space; indication of a fixed
or moving point or object in space by the direction of movement or gaze. |
| FOUETTE’: |
(fweh-TAY) Lift one leg and
hop while turning, the leg stays in the air until after the hop. |
|
| GRAND
BATTEMENT: |
Grand
(meaning large) Battement (meaning beating). A Lifting movement of the
free leg from a forward, sideward, or backward position. Also called a
high kick. |
| GRAND: |
Means large movement. |
| GRAND
JETE’: |
(zhuh-TAY)
A leap usually obtaining height and distance. |
| GRAPEVINE: |
A weaving movement; step-
side-back-side-front; depending on where you want to start. |
|
| HALF
TOE: |
Position
of the foot with the heel off the ground with the weight on the ball of
the foot. |
| HEAD
SNAP: |
Head turns sharply to one
side or the other. |
| HEAD
TILT: |
Head moves
to side with the face in a forward direction as if you were trying to
put the ear towards the shoulder. |
| HEEL
DIG: |
Place heel forward with the
ankle flexed ; this movement takes no weight. |
| HITCH
KICK: |
Starting
from a passe , jump back on the passe leg and kick the other leg. |
| HOOK: |
A parallel passe where the
foot is lifted to the supporting knee. |
| HOP: |
Jump off
floor on one foot and landing on the same foot. |
| HYPEREXTENSION: |
Extreme arch of the back,
knees or arms. |
|
| IMPROVISATION: |
To perform
without preparation. |
| INTENSITY: |
The relative degree of force
or strength; the depth of feeling or concentration. |
| ISOLATION: |
Separation
of body parts. Making one body part work independently of another body
part. |
|
| JAZZ
HANDS: |
Hands open with the fingers
wide spread. |
| JAZZ
LEAP: |
Single stag
leap. |
| JAZZ
WALK: |
A walk done in demi-plie’
position; the feet pointed forward with the abdominals lifted. |
| JETE’: |
(zhuh-TAY)
Leap; a jump from one leg to another. |
| JUMP: |
Taking off and landing on
both feet. |
|
| KINESTHETIC
SENSE: |
An
internalized awareness of body placement and movement, and awareness of
the relative force and range of movement. |
| KNEE
HINGE: |
Knee bends with toe on floor
and closes to supporting leg, then opens to other side. |
|
| LOCOMOTOR: |
A movement
through space involving a change of location. |
| LUNGE: |
A movement where one leg is
in a plie’ position and the other leg is extended. |
| LYRICAL: |
A style of
dancing with a smooth flowing quality. |
|
| MODERN
DANCE: |
A highly individualized
form of artistic expression which began as a rejection of traditional
ballet concepts; there is not a single approach to technique. |
| MUSCLE: |
A band of
contractile (having the power of lengthening) tissue in the body, that affects
bodily movement. |
|
| OBLIQUE: |
A facing position towards a
corner or diagonal. |
| OPPOSITION: |
A position
or movement in contrast to another position or movement of an opposite
part of the body used to maintain balance. |
|
| PARALLEL
POSITION: |
Feet and knees facing
forward. |
| PASSE’: |
(pa-SAY)
The foot meets the knee of the supporting leg from one position to
another. |
| PAS
DE BOUREE’: |
(pah duh boo-RAY) A sideways
movement or transition step where a person steps behind, to the side,
and then steps to the front. |
| PEDDLE: |
Changing
weight from one foot to the other; the heel comes up first and the toe
remains on the ground. |
| PENDULAR: |
The type of movement which is
held then released to flow back and forth in a swinging action using
gravity. |
| PERCUSSIVE: |
A movement
quality which is quick and more aggressive in nature. |
| PETITE: |
Means small movement |
| PIROUETTE: |
(peer-WET)
A turn executed on one leg and does not travel. |
| PIVOT
TURN: |
A turn in place on the ball
on the foot. |
| PLIE’: |
(plee-AY)
To bend the knees; DEMI: meaning small, the movement is stopped before
the heels release from the floor. |
| POINTED
TOES: |
Ankle must be extended and
toes follow the line. |
| PORT
DE BRAS: |
(pawr duh
brah) The carriage , placement , and movement of the arms. |
|
| RECOVER: |
To resume original position. |
| RELEASE: |
The letting
go of tension or energy. |
| RELEVE’: |
(ruhl-VAY) Like an eleve’
but executed with a spring-like action. |
| ROND
DE JAMBE: |
(rawn duh
zhajnb) When the leg produces a circle pattern. |
| RHYTHM: |
The flow of movement in
recurrent groupings resulting in a feeling of relationship. |
|
| SAUTE’: |
(soh-TAY) A
jump taking off from two feet at the same time. |
| SISSONE: |
(see-SAWN) Taking off from
both feet and landing on one foot. |
| SOUTENU: |
(soot-NEW)
A turn involving two steps . |
| SPIN
TURN: |
A turn stepping on one foot
and bringing both feet together as you turn. |
| SPOTTING: |
A movement
of the head in turns where the eyes are focused on a particular spot in
the direction of the turn, and the head is quickly snapped back at the
last possible moment to re-focus upon the same spot. |
| SKIP: |
Consists of a step and a hop
done on the same foot. |
| SLIDE: |
Consists of
a step and a drawing or dragging of the other foot. |
| STAGGER: |
Every other girl moves
forward or back. |
| STAG
LEAP: |
A
jazz leap jumping from both feet and placing one leg in a bent leg
position and the other leg is straight. |
| STRADDLE: |
A position of the legs when
both legs or extended out to the side. |
| STRETCH: |
The
lengthening or enlarging of a muscle. |
| STYLE: |
A distinctive or
characteristic manner of expressing an idea; a personal mode or form. |
| SUSPENDED: |
A quality
of movement that creates the impression of defying gravity; floating,
effortless movement. |
| SUSTAINED: |
Movement where energy is
released equally in a smooth pattern. |
| SWINGING: |
Tension is
held, then released to flow with gravity back and forth. |
| SYMMETRICAL: |
A balanced , even design; an
even correspondence of design, space, rhythm, or position of the body. |
| SYNCOPATION: |
A temporary
displacement of the normal stressed beats of a measure. |
|
| TAG: |
Additional measure or beats
of music. |
| TEMPO: |
The rate of
speed at which the music is played or that the movement occurs. |
| TORSO: |
Part of the body from the top
of the shoulders to the bottom of the hips. |
| TENDU: |
(tahn-DEW)
Foot brushes; the foot brushes along the floor to a pointed foot, the
knees do not bend. |
| THREE
STEP TURN: |
A complete turn in a straight
line, using three steps. |
| TURN
OUT POSITION: |
An outward
rotation of the legs, the action taking place at the hip joints. |
| TEMPO: |
The rate of speed at which a
movement occurs or in which the music is played. |
| TOE
DIG: |
Place the
ball of the foot beside the supporting foot, this movement does not take
weight. |
| TRIPLET: |
A three step pattern with the
accent usually on the first step. |
| TURNOUT: |
A position
of the legs with the feet and knees turned outward from the hips. |
|
| UPSTAGE: |
A direction indicating
movement away from the audience. |
|
| VIBRATORY: |
A group of
pressive moves performed in quick succession. |
