French Terms

ADAGIO – Slow sustained movement
A LA QUATRIEME – In the 4th position
A TERRE – On the floor
ASSEMBLE – Assemble. Gather together
BATTEMENT – Beating action
CHANGE´ – Changed
COU DE PIED – Neck of the foot. The ankle
COUPE’ – Cut. Cutting the weight from one foot to the other.
CROISE’- Crossed
DE COTE’ – Traveling to the side
DEGAGE – Disengage
DEMI – Half
DERRIERE – At the back
DESSOUS (duh soo) – Under
DESSUS (duh sew) – Over
DEVANT – In front
DEVELOPPE – Unfolding
ECARTE – Thrown wide apart. Thrown open. Separated.
ECHAPPE – Escaped
EFFACE – Shaded
EN ARRIERE – Traveling backwards
EN AVANT – Traveling forwards
EN CROIX – In the shape of a cross
EN DEDANS – Inwards. Towards the supporting leg
EN DEHORS – Outwards. Away from the supporting leg
EN LAIR – In the air
EPAULMENT – Use of the shoulders
FERME – Closed
FONDU – Melted
GLISSADE – Glide
GRAND BATTEMENT – Large throw . Big beating
JETE – Thrown. A spring from one leg to the other
OUVERT – Open
PAS – A step
PAS DE CHAT – Step of the cat
PAS DE CHAVAL – Step of the horse
PAS DE BASQUE – Step from basque dancing
PAS DE BOURREE – Small running step
PASSE’ – Passed – through 1st, cou de pied or retire
PENCHE – Inclined
PETIT – Small
PIQUE – Pricked
PLIE – Bending of the knees
RELEVE – Raised . Rise
RETIRE – Drawn up
ROND DE JAMBE – A circular movement of the leg
SANS CHANGE’ – Without changing
SAUTE’ – Jumped. To Jump
SOUTENU – Sustained
SUR PLACE- In place
TEMPS LEVE’ – Time raised. A spring
TEMPS LIE – Connected movement. Time linked
TOMBE’ – Falling