[boo-RAY] Literally, bourree means to to cram or stuff. The term is also used to describe a quick French dance done double time. Whether a dancer is in regular ballet shoes or on pointe, bourree's are usually done in fifth position on releve. The dancer has her feet tightly together and quickly moves either the front or back foot and then following with the other foot as quickly as possible. Bourree's are tiny steps that are done very quickly and are beautiful to watch.
[a-tee-TUD] In ballet, an attitude has nothing to do with your personality. Actually, an attitude is a pose, a way that a dancer can hold herself. In order to perform an attitude, a dancer must balance herself on one leg while holding the other leg at a 90 degree angle in a curved position. The raised leg can either be held to the back or the front. The arms of the dancer usually remain in fourth position, curved, one arm above the head, and one arm to the side.
[plee-YAY] Probably the most commonly known exercise performed in ballet. A plie` is a bending of the knees, a bending action where the knees bend over the toes while the dancer's heels remain on the floor. A demi-plie` is simply a small bending of the knees while a grand-plie` is a full bending of the knees where the heels do actually come off of the floor. Plie`'s assist a dancer in many exercises performed, especially in jumping.
[tahn-DU] A tendu is a movement performed with the foot and leg. It is the stretching of the foot, or an outstretched position or action were the working leg extends with a pointed, turned-out foot, and the toes are in contact with the floor during the extension. For example, a dancer will extend her leg from fifth position while brushing her foot on the floor through to a pointed position. The foot stays on the floor during the entire movement.
[fra-PAY] A hitting or striking action of the foot where the foot is directed toward the floor using a strong extension of the leg. The foot starts in a wrapped position called sur le cou-de-pied where the heel of the foot is placed on the front of the leg directly below the calf, and the toes of the foot are wrapped around the leg toward the back, with the knee placed directly to the side. From this starting position, the leg strikes forward, leading with the heel, hitting the ball of the foot on the floor, and extending to a pointed position with the foot. The leg and foot then return to their original positions to begin the frappe'again.
[de-MEE-point] Being on demi-pointe is like being on tip-toe. The ball of the foot is in contact with the floor, and is supporting the weight of the body. Sometimes this movement is referred to as three-quarter pointe. When a dancer is wearing pointe shoes, she can raise to en-pointe, where she is actually using the tip of her foot to support her weight on the floor.
[rel-a-VAY] One of the best exercises for strengthening the muscles in the feet and the legs. The dancer pulls up, raises, or lifts to demi-pointe or en-pointe. The releve` begins and ends in a plie`, and the middle action is rising to a demi-pointe or on-pointe position. A releve` can be performed on two feet or on one foot in first, second, fourth, or fifth position.
Some of the technical information on this page was adapted from the following source: Dictionary of Classical Ballet Terminology, Rhonda Ryman, 1994.