Dance for Dummies

So I've decided that you guys might want to actually know what I'm talking about in this blog. Here's a list compiled of lingo that I believe will be important to understanding this blog:

• Attitude-A position where a dancer stands on the supporting leg and the working leg is lifted, turned out with the knee bent and in line with the ankle, as if it could be resting on a table. An attitude can be presented to the front, the side, or the back (the front and back being the most common.) 
  
• Chainés- A type of turn in which the feet stay in first position and each step creates half of a circle. These turns alternate feet and can be presented along a straight line or even in a circle.
• Chassé-The French translation is literally "chased or hunted." This dance move is often compared to when children gallop, pretending to ride horses. It is a slide in the forward, backward, or sideways direction, with both knees bent, followed by a spring into the air where the legs straighten and meet, and when landed, the step is usually repeated.
• En Pointe-This usually describes dancing on the tips of the toes, using pointe shoes, special shoes made for this type of dance. This could also describe far the heel is raised when in relevé: quarter, which is slightly off the floor; demi, which is halfway between quarter and three quarter; three quarter, which creates a straight line from the knee to the ball of the foot; and sur les points, which is on the tips of the toes.
  
• Fouetté Turn-This literally means "whipped." This dance move is a turn with a quick change in the direction of the working leg as it passes in front of the supporting leg.
• Grand Battement-The French translation is literally "large beating." The is a movement where the dancer kicks the leg as high a possible, while the supporting leg stays straight.
  
• Grand Jeté-This is a leap that is commonly executed after a chasse, followed by the front leg brushing straight into the air with the back leg coming up to create a split in the air.
  
• Pas de Bourrée-This literally means "Step of the Drunken Lady." It's a three-step movement, which includes one foot stepping behind the other as the first step, the foot now in front stepping to the side being the second, and the foot that moved in the first step now moving in front of the other foot to rest in either third or fifth position.
• Piqué Turn- This term literally translates to "pricked." This turn is performed by transferring weight from one leg to the other, and turning, bring the first leg into retiré (the foot meets the other leg's knee, turned out.)
• Pirouette- This is a controlled turn starting with both legs in plié, then pushing onto the supporting leg and executing a turn. The working leg can be in retiré, attitude, arabesque (the working leg straight behind the dancer), or straight to the side.
• Plié- The French translation is literally "bending of the knees." This is just a smooth bending of the knees.
• Port de Bras-This literally means "carriage of the arms." This is the movement of the arms, gracefully, from one position to another.
• Positions of feet and arms-These are the positions of the arms and feet commonly held by dancers. These positions include First, Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth Position.
• Relevé-This means "lifted." This move is executed by rising from plié to balance on either one of two feet in at least demi pointe. 
  
• Sickled-This term refers to the reverse of a turn out. This is a big no-no in the dance world.
• Supporting Leg-This is the leg that is supporting the rest of the body as the working leg works.
• Sur le cu de pied-This term refers to the working leg bending and having the foot pointed and resting on the ankle of the supporting leg.
• Tour Jeté-This is a jump where the dancer starts with a grand battement and while jumping, turns their body and lands with the other leg in arabesque.
• Turn-Out-This is the rotation of the leg from the hips, causing the whole leg to turn outward.
• Working Leg-This is the leg that does all the work: kicking, lifting, moving, etc.

These are only a few of the many terms relating to ballet, and dance in general. Hopefully this has helped you gain a bit more insight to this beautiful art that has been around for thousands of years