Grade one ballet terms

Grade one ballet theory

Movements and phonetic pronunciation for the grade one ballet exam

Movement: Battement
Phonetic pronunciation: Baht-mahn
Simple pronunciation guide: bat a mon
Description: To beat, beating

Movement: Changement, (Changement de pieds)
Phonetic pronunciation: Shahnzh-mahns, (dih pee-ay)
Simple pronunciation guide: charn gee marnt
Description: Changing of the feet (3rd to 3rd), (Change of feet)

Movement: Coupé
Phonetic pronunciation: Koo-pay
Simple pronunciation guide: coo pay
Description: To cut, cutting

Movement: Croisé
Phonetic pronunciation: Krwah-zay
Simple pronunciation guide: crar zay
Description: Crossed

Movement: Dégagé
Phonetic pronunciation: Day-gah-zhay
Simple pronunciation guide: day gar zay
Description: To point (disengaged step)

Movement: Demi
Phonetic pronunciation: D’mee
Simple pronunciation guide: demi
Description: Half

Movement: Derrière
Phonetic pronunciation: Dih-ree-air
Simple pronunciation guide: derry air
Description: To the back

Movement: Devant
Phonetic pronunciation: Dih-vahn
Simple pronunciation guide: dee varn
Description: In front

Movement: En arriere
Phonetic pronunciation: Ahn-nah-ree-air
Simple pronunciation guide: on na ree air
Description: Going backwards

Movement: En croix
Phonetic pronunciation: Ahn Krwah
Simple pronunciation guide: on cra
Description: In the shape of a cross

Movement:
Phonetic pronunciation: Ahn fahs
Simple pronunciation guide: on fars
Description: Facing the front

Movement: En l’air
Phonetic pronunciation: Ahn lehr
Simple pronunciation guide: on lair
Description: In the air

Movement: Enchaînment
Phonetic pronunciation: Ahn-shahn-mahn
Simple pronunciation guide: on charn gee mon
Description: A chain of steps put together

Movement: Jeté
Phonetic pronunciation: Zheh-tay
Simple pronunciation guide: jet ay
Description: To spring (step thrown)

Movement: Ouvert
Phonetic pronunciation: Oo-vair
Simple pronunciation guide: ooo ver
Description: Open, opened

Movement: Petit
Phonetic pronunciation: P’tee
Simple pronunciation guide: pet ee
Description: Small

Movement: Plié
Phonetic pronunciation: Plee-ay
Simple pronunciation guide: plee ay
Description: To bend

Movement: Pose
Phonetic pronunciation: Pose
Simple pronunciation guide: posay
Description: To step

Movement: Retiré
Phonetic pronunciation: Euh-tee-ray
Simple pronunciation guide: ret ee ray
Description: To draw up

Movement: Retirér sautes
Phonetic pronunciation: Euh-tee-ray soh-tays
Simple pronunciation guide: ret ee ray sow tays
Description: Skips (draw up and jump)

Movement: Sautes
Phonetic pronunciation: Soh-tays
Simple pronunciation guide: sow tays
Description: Jumps

Movement: Seconde
Phonetic pronunciation: Suh-gawnd
Simple pronunciation guide: seyconnd
Description: To the side

Movement: Tendu
Phonetic pronunciation: Tah-diu
Simple pronunciation guide: tarn do
Description: To stretch

Movement: Temps levé
Phonetic pronunciation: Tanh luh-vay
Simple pronunciation guide: tarn luv ay
Description: Hop

Key to phonetic pronunciation (all sounds in English)

‘zh’ = ‘s’ as in measure, leisure

‘oo’ = ‘oo’ as in shoot, zoo

‘ew’ = ‘u’ as in cupid

‘ahn’ = ‘on’ as in concert

‘eh’ = ‘ai’ as in pair

‘ohn’ = ‘on’ as in long

‘oh’ = ‘o’ as in role

‘ohm’ = ‘om’ as in come