Sitting outside a ballet class or watching an exam, you hear a stream of French words that mean very little if you have not studied ballet yourself. This guide translates the most common ballet movements into plain English so you can follow what your child is learning and support them at home.
Why Ballet Uses French
Ballet was formalised as an art form at the French court in the 17th century, and Louis XIV established the Académie Royale de Danse in Paris in 1661. The movement vocabulary was codified in French and has been maintained as a global standard ever since. A student trained in New Zealand uses the same vocabulary as one trained in Russia — which is one of ballet’s great practical advantages as an international art form.
Basic Exercises at the Barre
Plié
“To bend.” The knees bend while the feet remain turned out on the floor. A demi-plié is a half-bend; a grand plié goes deeper, with the heels rising from the floor (except in second position). Pliés warm up the knees, ankles and hips and appear in every class from Pre-Primary onwards.
Relevé
“To rise.” The dancer rises onto the balls of the feet (demi-pointe) or the tips of the toes in pointe shoes (full pointe). Relevé builds calf strength and ankle stability and is the foundation of all pointe work.
Tendu
“Stretched.” The working foot slides along the floor from fifth or first position until the toes remain on the floor with the leg fully extended. Battement tendu builds the pointed, extended leg shape that defines ballet.
Dégagé
“Disengaged.” Like a tendu but the foot leaves the floor slightly at the end of the extension. Faster and lighter than tendu, dégagé develops the quick footwork needed for jumps and combinations.
Rond de Jambe
“Circle of the leg.” The working leg draws a circle on the floor (à terre) or in the air (en l’air). Rond de jambe develops hip rotation, which is fundamental to ballet technique.
Fondu
“Melted.” Both legs bend simultaneously — the supporting leg in a demi-plié while the working leg folds in — and then straighten together. The movement has a smooth, sinking quality. Fondu prepares dancers for landing from jumps.
Centre Work
Pirouette
“Spin” or “whirl.” A turn on one leg, usually in retiré position (working foot at the knee). Pirouettes can turn inward (en dedans) or outward (en dehors) and from one turn to many rotations at advanced levels.
Chassé
“Chased.” A sliding step where one foot chases the other across the floor. One of the first travelling steps children learn and a common preparation for jumps.
Pas de Bourrée
“Step of the bourrée.” Three quick, small steps that travel sideways, forward or backward. Used widely as a linking step between bigger movements.
Jumps
Sauté
“Jumped.” Any jump from two feet to two feet in one of the five positions. Sauté en première means a jump in first position. The soft, springy landing through the foot and knee is one of the most important skills in ballet.
Jeté
“Thrown.” A jump from one foot to the other. In a grand jeté, the dancer leaps with legs split wide apart — the classic image of a ballet leap.
Assemblé
“Assembled.” Both feet come together in the air and land simultaneously. The feet are “assembled” into fifth position on landing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do children need to memorise all the French terms?
Yes — gradually. The RAD syllabus introduces movement names progressively, and from Grade 3 onwards, students are expected to know the correct names for the steps they perform. Knowing the terms also helps children respond quickly in class when the teacher calls for a step by name.
What is the difference between a plié and a fondu?
In a plié, only the knees bend while the working foot stays in its position (first, second, fourth or fifth). In a fondu, the supporting leg performs a demi-plié while simultaneously the working leg folds in — both legs move together with a soft, melting quality. Fondu is more complex and appears later in the syllabus.
What does en dehors and en dedans mean?
En dehors means “outward” — turning or circling away from the supporting leg. En dedans means “inward” — turning or circling toward the supporting leg. These terms apply to turns (pirouettes), rond de jambe and several other movements.
How can I help my child learn ballet terms at home?
Simple flashcards work well — term on one side, movement description on the other. You can also watch short video explanations of specific steps together. Some families make it a game: call out a term at random and see if the child can demonstrate it. Most ballet students enjoy showing what they know when given the chance.