Following is a dictionary of Cecchetti Ballet Terms. The words in () are verbs.
Grade 1
Derriére – back
Devant – front
Échappe (Échappér) – escape
Tendu (Étendré) – stretch
Grand – bigJeté
(Jetér) – throw
Pas de Chat – step of the cat
Petit – little
Port de bras – carriage of the arms
Retiré – withdrawn
Sauté (Sautér) – jump
Grade 2
Á terre – on the ground
Chassé (Chassér) – chase
Developpé (Developpér) – unfold
En avant – forwards, to the front
En arriére – backwards, to the back
En croix – in the shape of a cross
Relevé (Relevér) – rise
Ronds de jambe – round of the leg
Temps lié – linked time, step
Temps levé – lifted step
Tour en l’air – turn in the air
Soutenu – sustained
De suite – continuous
En l’air – in the air
Grade 3
Assemblé (Assemblér) – assemble, bring together
Balancé (Balancér) – rock, sway
Coupé (Coupér) – cut
Croisé devant – crossed front
Croisé derriére – crossed back
Degagé (Degagére) – disengage
Dessous – under
En bas – low
En Haut – high
Frappé (Frappér) – strike
Posé (Posér) – placed step
Grade 4
Fermé – closed
Écarté – thrown apart, seperated
En dehors – outwards
En dedans – inwards
En l’air – in the air
Fondu – melting
Glissé (Glisser) – glide
Sissone – scissor like movement
Grade 5
Changement (Changer) – changed
Effacé – shaded
Épaule – shouldered
Entrachat – interweaving
Ouverte – open
Soubresaut – start jolt
Grade 6
Revise all grades with the following additions.
Adage: a collection of slow, graceful movements of the arms, legs, body and head, performed with ease, grace and fluidity.
Allegro: movements performed quickly and with liveliness highlighting the dancer’s speed, agility and elevation.
Au Millieu: in the centre.
Enchainements: a sequence of dance steps.
Port De Bras: a phrase referring to the position, opposition and carriage of the arms used in harmony with the head, body and legs to complement the dancer’s line.
