- Most ballet vocabulary is French and is used unchanged in English-speaking studios worldwide.
- The five positions of the feet are the foundation of all ballet movement vocabulary.
- Movement terms such as plié, tendu, and jeté describe specific actions and are never translated.
- Performance and teaching vocabulary in English surrounds the French steps with everyday classroom language.
- Learning the meaning of common French roots helps you decode dozens of step names.
Ballet is a global art form, and its vocabulary is one of the most distinctive in any discipline. If you walk into a ballet class in London, New York, Tokyo, or Kyiv, the teacher will call the steps by the same French names. This is wonderful for dancers who travel, but it can be confusing for English learners, because the language of the studio mixes French step names with English instructions, corrections, and performance terms. Understanding both layers — the fixed French vocabulary and the surrounding English — is what allows a dancer to follow a class confidently in an English-speaking country.
This guide explains the essential ballet vocabulary you will hear and use, from the five positions of the feet to the language of the stage. Because the French terms are universal, learning them once means you can dance anywhere; the English around them is what you will pick up as you train.
1. Why Ballet Uses French in English
Ballet developed at the French court in the seventeenth century, particularly under King Louis XIV, who founded the first dance academy in 1661. The terminology established then spread across Europe and was never translated. As a result, French became the international language of ballet, just as Italian is the language of music. When an English-speaking teacher says “and plié,” they are using a French word inside an English sentence — a pattern you will hear constantly.
French ballet terms keep their French pronunciation in English. Plié is “plee-AY,” jeté is “zhuh-TAY,” and the final consonant in words like tendu is soft. Listening to a teacher and copying the sound is the fastest way to get pronunciation right.
2. The Positions
Everything in ballet begins from the positions of the feet, of which there are five. These are the bedrock vocabulary every dancer learns first.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| first position | Heels together, toes turned out to the sides. |
| second position | Feet apart in a line, both turned out. |
| fifth position | One foot in front of the other, heel to toe. |
| turnout | The outward rotation of the legs from the hips. |
| arabesque | Standing on one leg with the other extended behind. |
| en pointe | Dancing on the tips of the toes in pointe shoes. |
There are also positions of the arms (described as port de bras, literally “carriage of the arms”), which coordinate with the feet to create the lines that define classical ballet.
3. Movements and Steps
The largest part of ballet vocabulary describes movement. Many of these terms are verbs in French, and their meaning often hints at the action.
- plié (“bent”) — a bending of the knees.
- tendu (“stretched”) — sliding the foot to a pointed position.
- jeté (“thrown”) — a jump from one foot to the other.
- relevé (“raised”) — rising onto the balls of the feet or pointe.
- pirouette — a turn on one leg.
- grand jeté — a large leap through the air.
- fouetté (“whipped”) — a whipping turn.
Notice how the French root often describes the action: plier means “to bend,” tendre means “to stretch,” sauter means “to jump.” Once you recognise these roots, dozens of compound step names become readable.
4. Performance Vocabulary
When a ballet moves from the studio to the stage, a layer of English performance vocabulary comes into play. These words are mostly English and describe the theatrical side of dance.
- corps de ballet — the group of dancers who perform together, not as soloists.
- principal — the highest rank of dancer, who performs leading roles.
- pas de deux — a dance for two, usually a lead couple.
- variation — a solo dance within a larger ballet.
- wings — the sides of the stage, hidden from the audience.
- curtain call — the dancers' bow at the end of a performance.
5. Teaching and Classroom Language
In an English-speaking class, the teacher wraps the French steps in everyday English instructions and corrections. This is the language you most need to understand to follow a lesson.
- “Take it from the top” — start again from the beginning.
- “Lengthen through the spine” — a posture correction.
- “Spot the turn” — fix your eyes on a point to avoid dizziness.
- “Hold the barre lightly” — the barre is the rail used for support in early exercises.
- “Centre work” — exercises done away from the barre, in the middle of the room.
A class typically moves from barre work (warm-up exercises holding the rail) to centre work (the same skills without support) and finally to travelling steps across the floor. Knowing this structure helps you predict what the teacher will ask for next.
6. Tips for Learning the Terms
Ballet vocabulary is learned through the body as much as the mind, so connect each word to the movement it names.
- Learn the French roots: plier (bend), tendre (stretch), sauter (jump), tourner (turn).
- Say the term aloud as you perform the step — this links sound, meaning, and action.
- Watch recorded classes with English instruction to hear the French and English layers together.
- Keep a small glossary of new terms with a quick sketch of the position or movement.
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Start Practising →Frequently Asked Questions
Why are ballet terms in French even in English-speaking countries?
Ballet developed at the French court in the seventeenth century, especially under King Louis XIV, who founded the first dance academy in 1661. The vocabulary established then spread across Europe and was adopted everywhere without translation, just as Italian became the international language of music. As a result, a ballet class anywhere in the world uses the same French step names. This is a great advantage for dancers, because the core vocabulary is universal: once you learn the French terms, you can follow a class in any country regardless of the local language.
Do I need to translate French ballet terms into English?
No — French ballet terms are never translated in practice. A teacher says “plié,” not “bend,” and “tendu,” not “stretch.” What helps, though, is knowing what the French words literally mean, because the meaning usually describes the movement: plié means “bent,” tendu means “stretched,” jeté means “thrown.” Understanding these meanings makes the vocabulary logical rather than arbitrary, and it helps you remember and decode compound terms you have not met before. So you use the French names but benefit from understanding their English translations.
What are the five positions in ballet?
The five positions of the feet are the foundation of all ballet. In first position the heels touch and the toes turn out to the sides. In second the feet are apart in a turned-out line. Third places one foot partly in front of the other, fourth separates them front and back, and fifth crosses one foot tightly in front of the other, heel to toe. Every step in ballet begins and ends in one of these positions, so learning their names and shapes is the first vocabulary a dancer masters. There are also corresponding positions of the arms.
How do I pronounce common ballet terms in English?
French ballet terms keep their French pronunciation even when used in English sentences. “Plié” is said “plee-AY,” “jeté” is “zhuh-TAY,” “tendu” is “tahn-DEW,” and “pirouette” is “peer-oo-ET.” The acute accent over the final “e” (as in plié, jeté, relevé) signals an “ay” sound. The best way to learn pronunciation is to listen closely to a teacher and imitate the sound, since the rhythm and stress of these words are hard to capture from spelling alone. Most English speakers in the ballet world pronounce the terms in a recognisably French way.
What is the difference between barre work and centre work?
Barre work is the first part of a ballet class, performed while holding a horizontal rail called the barre for support and balance. It warms up the body and drills the fundamental movements such as pliés and tendus in a controlled way. Centre work follows: the dancer performs similar and more advanced movements in the middle of the room without holding anything, which requires far more balance and strength. A class usually progresses from barre to centre and then to travelling steps across the floor. Understanding this structure helps an English learner anticipate the teacher's instructions throughout the lesson.
What does “corps de ballet” mean?
The corps de ballet, a French phrase meaning “body of the ballet,” is the group of dancers who perform together as an ensemble rather than as soloists. They create the large, coordinated formations seen in classical works such as Swan Lake and Giselle. Dancing in the corps demands precise unison and is usually where professional dancers begin their careers before rising to soloist and then principal rank. The term is part of the performance vocabulary that surrounds the technical French steps, and it is used unchanged in English-speaking companies around the world.
What does “spotting” mean in ballet?
Spotting is a technique used during turns to prevent dizziness and maintain orientation. As the dancer turns, they keep their eyes fixed on a single point — often a spot on the back wall — for as long as possible, then quickly whip the head around to find the same point again. A teacher will often say “spot the turn” as a correction. The word “spot” here is English classroom vocabulary, used alongside the French name of the turn itself, such as pirouette or fouetté. Mastering spotting is essential for executing multiple turns cleanly and is one of the first skills taught for pirouettes.
What is a “pas de deux”?
A pas de deux, French for “step of two,” is a dance performed by two dancers, traditionally a male and female lead. It is one of the highlights of a classical ballet and usually consists of an opening section, solo variations for each dancer, and a fast closing section called the coda. The pas de deux showcases partnering skills such as lifts and supported turns. Like other French performance terms, it is used directly in English. Related terms include pas de trois (a dance for three) and pas seul (a solo), all built from the same French word pas, meaning “step.”
How can I learn ballet vocabulary quickly?
The fastest way is to connect each term to the physical movement it names by saying the word aloud as you perform the step. This links the sound, the meaning, and the action in your memory far more effectively than reading definitions alone. Learning the common French roots — plier (bend), tendre (stretch), sauter (jump), tourner (turn) — lets you decode many compound step names on sight. Watching recorded classes taught in English helps you hear how French steps and English instructions combine. Keeping a small illustrated glossary of new terms and reviewing it regularly secures the vocabulary over time.
What does “en pointe” mean?
“En pointe” is a French phrase meaning “on the point,” and it describes dancing on the very tips of the toes, supported by special reinforced pointe shoes. It is one of the most recognisable features of classical ballet and is usually performed by female dancers, though men occasionally dance en pointe in certain roles. Reaching this level requires years of training to build the necessary ankle and foot strength; beginners do not start en pointe. The term is part of the everyday vocabulary of the ballet studio and, like other French expressions, is used unchanged within English sentences.