Modern 1

Basic Vocabulary and Terminology

1/29/14
A terre (par terre): On the ground
Adage (adagio): Slow and sustained. Common term for a combination of slow,
controlled movements designed to increase ones balance, flexibility and fluidity of
motion.
Allegro: Quick and lively. As an adjective, this term refers to musical tempo. As a
noun, it is most often used in reference to phrases that involve jumping, either petit
(small) or grand (large).
Arabesque: Ornamented. Used to describe a position in which the gesture leg is
extended fully to the back. The standing leg may be rotated or not, and the standing
knee may be either flexed or extended. May also be done on releve, and while
jumping or turning.
Attitude: Similar to arabesque, though in this case, the gesture leg is flexed at the
knee. Also, unlike arabesque, an attitude position may be taken in any direction,
forward, side or back.
Catch Step: Two steps taken in any direction using one and one-half counts of
music.
Chasse: Chase. Most commonly, a sliding motion to the front, side or back in which
the dancer pushes off the leading leg, brings the legs together in the air (most
frequently in 5th position), and lands on the following leg.
Contraction: To reduce or become reduced in size by drawing together. Generally
describes an action of the torso in which the navel is drawn into the spine with the
spine and pelvis curving forward creating a C-like articulation.
Degage: Disengaged. An extension of tendu in which the gesture foot is
disengaged from the floor creating a 45-degree angle from the hip socket while
keeping the hips square and level.
Developpe: Develop. An extension of the leg in any direction that articulates
through a flexed knee and hip, most often passing through a pass or retire position.
Eleve: Rise. An extension of the joints of the ankles and feet that causes the heels
to rise from the floor. This may be done in any position, either parallel or rotated,
and on either one leg or two. However, the standing leg(s) must remain straight at
all times.
En Crois (en croix): In the shape or pattern of a cross. Exercises or movements
done consecutively to the front, side, back, and side. May also begin to the back.
En Dedans: Toward the inside. A turn or circular movement rotating toward the
center of the body.

En Dehors: Toward the outside. A turn or circular movement rotating away from
the center of the body.
Flat Back (Tabletop Position): A forward flexion of the hip joints leaving the
pelvis, torso, upper back, and head in one continuous straight line. Legs may be in
either an extended or flexed articulation.
Fondu: Melt. An articulation of the three joint systems of a single standing leg.
Fondu is on one leg what plie is on two.
Hop: Any jump that takes off from and lands on the same foot.
Jete: Thrown. Any jump which takes off from one leg and lands on the other. May
be done in any direction and in a wide variety of leg positions.
Jump: Taking off and landing on both feet.
Leg Swing: A swinging movement of the leg, initiating from the hip socket with the
gesture leg in a flexed or attitude position. May be done in any direction including
circles en dehors and en dedans.
Parallel: Slight inward rotation of the legs so that the toes are pointed directly
forward with the knees tracking over the toes. May be done in any position.
Pas de Bourree: Any of a wide range of specific series of three steps taken in any
direction, either on releve, in demi-plie, or any combination thereof.
Plie: An articulation of the legs involving flexion of all three joint systems: hips,
knees and ankles. May be a demi (half) plie or a grand (large or full) plie, and may
be done in all positions, both rotated and parallel. In demi-plie, the heels remain
firmly on the floor, regardless of the position of the legs. In grand-plie, the heels rise
slightly, stretching the Achilles tendon, except in second position, in which the heels
remain on the floor.
Plie-Releve (Forced Arch): A position in which the ankles and feet are extended in
a releve or eleve articulation while the hips and knees flex in a plie. The heels are
lifted high from the floor in this position, and stability will come primarily from the
thighs.
Port de Bras: The carriage, placement and movement of the arms.
Prance: A traveling step created by Martha Graham. In our version, the legs
alternate to a low parallel attitude position, placing emphasis on beautifully pointed
feet and covering space. Unless otherwise specified, arms should be relaxed at the
sides.
Release: To disengage or become elongated in size by stretching parts of the body
to an extension greater than normal. Most often used to describe a concurrent arch
in the upper, middle, and lower spine.
Releve: See eleve. The primary difference is that releve initiates from a plie rather
than from straight legs.

Rond de Jambe: Circle of the leg. A movement in which the gesture leg clearly
passes through all three primary directions and creates a semi-circular pattern either
on the floor (rond de jambe par terre) or in the air (grand rond de jambe). May be
done either en dehors (front, side, back) or en dedans (back, side, front). When
performing consecutive ronds des jambes par terre, the gesture leg must pass
through a clear first position with the knees straight.
Sparkle: A variation of saut or temps leve arabesque. Both legs must be stretched
in the air, with the gesture (back) leg clearly articulating to a low (45-60 degree)
arabesque line. The arms push up from shoulder height, lengthening on a high
diagonal toward the working (lower) leg. The term for this jump was coined by
Martha Graham
Tendu: Stretched. An articulation of the leg front, side, or back that massages the
gesture foot against the floor, ending with fully extended ankles, arches, and toes.
The heel and instep should be lifted as high as possible without lifting the toes from
the floor.
Tombe: Fall. The body falls forward, back, or side, onto a working leg in fondu.
Triplet: A series of three steps in which the first step is taken in a rotated demi-plie,
and the second and third steps are taken on straight, rotated legs. There should be a
distinct feeling of rise and fall aka down, up, up.