4.1 Basic Dance Terminology and Positions

Ballet terminology and positions form the foundation of dance in musical theater. From pliés to relevés, these movements create the graceful language of ballet. Understanding the five basic positions allows performers to execute choreography with precision and artistry.

Basic dance steps like ball changes, grapevines, and pivot turns are essential building blocks for musical theater choreography. Mastering these fundamental moves and using proper terminology enhances communication, consistency, and professionalism in the world of dance and theater.

Ballet Terminology and Positions

Common dance terms

Top images from around the web for Common dance terms

• 

  Blah Blah Blah: Échappé View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Vocabulaire de la danse classique — Wikipédia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Blah Blah Blah: Useful Ballet Terms View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Blah Blah Blah: Échappé View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Vocabulaire de la danse classique — Wikipédia View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

Top images from around the web for Common dance terms

• 

  Blah Blah Blah: Échappé View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Vocabulaire de la danse classique — Wikipédia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Blah Blah Blah: Useful Ballet Terms View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Blah Blah Blah: Échappé View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Vocabulaire de la danse classique — Wikipédia View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

• Plié bends the knees and can be done in any of the five basic positions
  • Demi-plié involves a small bend of the knees
  • Grand plié involves a deep bend of the knees, with heels possibly lifting off the ground in turned-out positions
• Tendu, meaning "stretched", slides the working foot forward, sideways, or backward on the floor while keeping the supporting leg straight and maintaining contact with the floor throughout the movement
• Relevé rises onto the balls of the feet (demi-pointe) or all the way up onto the toes (en pointe, requiring pointe shoes) and can be done in any position

Five basic ballet positions

• First Position
  • Feet: Heels together and toes turned out, forming a straight line
  • Arms: Rounded in front of the body, fingertips almost touching, forming an oval shape
• Second Position
  • Feet: Heels apart and toes turned out, forming a straight line
  • Arms: Opened out to the sides, slightly rounded, palms facing inward
• Third Position
  • Feet: One foot in front of the other, heels touching the middle of the other foot, both turned out
  • Arms: One arm in first position, the other in second position
• Fourth Position
  • Feet: One foot in front of the other, about a foot's distance apart, both turned out
  • Arms: One arm in first position, the other raised above the head, slightly rounded
• Fifth Position
  • Feet: One foot in front of the other, toes of each foot reaching the heel of the other, both turned out
  • Arms: Both arms raised above the head, slightly rounded, palms facing inward

Basic Dance Steps

Basic dance steps

• Ball Change quickly shifts weight from one foot to the other by stepping onto the ball of one foot, then quickly shifting weight to the other foot
• Grapevine travels sideways with a series of side steps and crosses
  • Right grapevine: Step right, cross left foot behind right, step right, cross left foot in front of right
  • Left grapevine: Reverse the footwork
• Pivot Turn changes the direction the dancer is facing by stepping forward onto one foot, then using the other foot to push off and turn in the opposite direction
  • Can be done in various amounts (half turn of 180 degrees or full turn of 360 degrees)

Dance terminology in musical theater

• Clear Communication allows choreographers, directors, and performers to communicate effectively and ensures everyone understands the specific movements and positions being referred to
• Consistency in standardized terminology maintains consistency across different productions and styles, enabling dancers to quickly adapt to new choreography when working with different choreographers
• Professionalism is demonstrated by showing knowledge of proper dance terminology, helping dancers to be taken seriously in auditions and rehearsals
• Efficient Learning is facilitated by using correct terminology, allowing for more efficient learning and correction processes as dancers can make precise adjustments based on specific feedback using shared vocabulary