BASIC BALLET TERMINOLOGY PLIE- bent, a bending of the knees. This exercise is the base of any movement in dance. It renders the joints and muscles to be flexible. PORT DE BRAS-carriage of the arms,passing thru different positions. RELEVE- raised…on demi or demi pointe with the feet ROND DE JAMBE- circular movement of the leg TAMBE- to fall off of one leg to another PIROUETTE- a turn usually from 5th post ECHEPPE-opening both feet from a closed position ENTRECHAT beating of the legs when the dancer is in the air and changes feet CABRIOLE beating of the legs and feet on the diagonal in arabesque position FONDUE sinking down..lowering of the body made by bending the knee of the supporting leg COUPE-cutting as one foot takes the place of another ATTITUDE- basic position of the leg in a bent angle PASSE- to bring the foot to the knee DEVELOPE to bring the leg up in passe on he supporting leg-then extending that leg out straight BALANCE- rocking step, shifting weight from one leg to another (usually in 3/3 time-waltz) SISSONNE- jumping from one leg to another in a scissor type motion ARABESQUE- a position of the body in ballet or jazz, in profile, supported on one leg FRAPE- the ankle and foot brushes off of the floor TENDUE- to stretch the foot PROMENADE to be turn around holding a position GLISSADE- glide, a traveling step by gliding the working foot from 5th position and the other foot closing to it BATTEMENT-beating…. A beating action of the leg Grand- big leg extensions Petit small leg extensions ASSEMBLE joining together… the working foot slides off the ground before being swept in the air the dancer pushes off the floor with the suppporting leg extending the toes the the legs both come together in 5th position .