Ballet Exercises: Terminology, Foundational Movements, and Benefits

What are Ballet Exercises Called?

Ballet exercises are primarily known by their specific French terminology, which describes the movement, position, or action being performed. These terms form a universal language within classical ballet, detailing a comprehensive system of movements designed to cultivate strength, flexibility, balance, coordination, and artistic expression.

Introduction to Ballet Terminology

The world of ballet operates on a precise lexicon, predominantly derived from French. This standardized terminology ensures consistency and clarity across different schools and methods worldwide. Each term is not just a name but a descriptor of a specific anatomical action, often incorporating the direction, timing, or quality of the movement. Understanding these terms is crucial for anyone engaging with ballet, whether as a dancer, instructor, or fitness enthusiast seeking to incorporate balletic principles into their training.

Foundational Movements: The Building Blocks

Many ballet exercises are built upon a core set of foundational movements and positions. These are the alphabet of ballet, teaching fundamental body mechanics and alignment.

• Plié (plee-AY): To bend. A bending of the knees, keeping the heels on the floor (demi-plié) or allowing them to lift (grand plié). Focuses on strengthening the quadriceps, glutes, and improving ankle mobility, while developing control and fluidity.
• Relevé (rel-eh-VAY): To rise. A rise onto the balls of the feet or demi-pointe (half-pointe). Essential for developing calf strength, ankle stability, and balance.
• Tendu (tahn-DEW): To stretch. A movement where the foot slides along the floor until the toes are pointed and the heel is lifted, but the toes remain in contact with the floor. Builds strength in the intrinsic foot muscles and improves articulation of the foot and ankle.
• Dégagé (day-ga-ZHAY): To disengage. Similar to a tendu, but the foot lifts slightly off the floor. Develops speed, agility, and strengthens the hip flexors.
• Rond de Jambe (rawn duh ZHAHM): Circle of the leg. The working leg describes a circular motion on the floor (à terre) or in the air (en l'air). Improves hip mobility and control, strengthening the hip abductors and adductors.
• Frappé (fra-PAY): To strike. A rapid extension of the leg from a flexed position, striking the floor or air. Develops power, quickness, and strengthens the lower leg muscles.
• Coupé (koo-PAY): To cut. A position where the foot is placed at the ankle of the standing leg, either in front or behind. Often a preparatory position for other movements, promoting balance and quick transitions.
• Passé (pa-SAY): To pass. The working leg passes the knee of the standing leg, with the toe touching the knee. A common position for turns and developing hip turnout and stability.
• Développé (dev-law-PAY): To unfold. The leg slowly unfolds into an extended position in the air. Develops hamstring and hip flexibility, core strength, and control.
• Arabesque (a-ra-BESK): A position where the body is supported on one leg with the other leg extended straight back and lifted. Emphasizes back and glute strength, balance, and extension.
• Attitude (a-tee-TEWD): Similar to arabesque, but the lifted leg is bent at the knee, creating a graceful, curved line. Works similar muscle groups as arabesque but with a different aesthetic and muscular engagement.

Barre Work: Precision and Control

Many ballet exercises begin at the barre, a stationary handrail used for support. Barre work focuses on developing strength, flexibility, alignment, and precise muscular control without the challenge of balance required in the center.

Typical barre exercises include:

• Pliés and Relevés: Performed in various ballet positions (first, second, fifth) to warm up and strengthen the legs and feet.
• Battements (bat-MAHN): Refers to various "beating" or "kicking" movements, including:
  • Battement Tendu: As described above.
  • Battement Dégagé: As described above.
  • Grand Battement: A large kick of the leg, sending it high into the air with control. Develops explosive power and range of motion.
• Rond de Jambe: Both à terre and en l'air, improving hip rotation and control.
• Développés: Slow, controlled extensions to improve flexibility and core stability.
• Frappés: Quick, sharp movements for speed and power.
• Fondus (fawn-DEW): To melt. A bending of both knees simultaneously, followed by an extension, often performed on one leg. Develops eccentric control and strength, mimicking a plié on one leg.

Centre Work: From Barre to Movement

After barre work, dancers move to the "centre," performing exercises without the support of the barre. This phase integrates the strength and control gained at the barre into more complex, dynamic movements, focusing on balance, coordination, and spatial awareness.

Centre work is often divided into categories:

• Adagio (a-DAH-zhee-oh): Slow, sustained movements that emphasize balance, control, strength, and extension. Examples include slow développés, sustained arabesques, and intricate balances.
• Allegro (a-LEH-groh): Fast, brisk, and lively movements, typically involving jumps and turns. This category builds cardiovascular endurance, explosive power, and quick reflexes. Common allegro steps include:
  • Sauté (so-TAY): To jump. A basic jump from two feet to two feet.
  • Changement (shahnzh-MAHN): To change. A jump where the feet change positions in the air (e.g., from fifth position front to fifth position back).
  • Échappé (eh-sha-PAY): To escape. A jump or relevé where the feet "escape" from a closed position (e.g., first or fifth) to an open position (e.g., second or fourth).
  • Jeté (zheh-TAY): To throw. A jump from one foot to the other, often involving a "throwing" motion of the working leg.
  • Assemblé (a-sahn-BLAY): To assemble. A jump where one foot brushes out, and both feet "assemble" together in the air before landing.
  • Sissonne (see-SONN): A jump from two feet onto one foot.
• Pirouettes (peer-oo-ET): Turns. A turn on one leg, often with the other leg in passé. Requires significant core strength, balance, and spotting (focusing the eyes to prevent dizziness).
• Turns (Tours): Broader category of turning movements, including pirouettes, chaînés (chain-like turns), and piqué turns (pricked turns).

Port de Bras and Epaulement: Artistry and Upper Body Engagement

While much of ballet focuses on the legs, the upper body plays a crucial role in balance, aesthetics, and expression.

• Port de Bras (por duh BRAH): Carriage of the arms. Refers to the graceful movements and positions of the arms. Essential for balance, fluidity, and artistic expression, engaging the back, shoulder, and core muscles.
• Epaulement (eh-pohl-MAHN): Shouldering. The artistic use of the head and shoulders, creating a sense of dimension and expression. Integrates the upper body with the lower body movements, enhancing posture and dynamic alignment.

The Benefits of Ballet Training for Fitness

Beyond the specific names, the exercises performed in ballet offer profound physical and mental benefits:

• Strength: Develops lean muscle strength throughout the body, particularly in the legs, glutes, core, and back.
• Flexibility: Significantly improves range of motion in the hips, hamstrings, and spine.
• Balance and Stability: Constantly challenges and refines static and dynamic balance, enhancing proprioception (body awareness).
• Coordination: Integrates complex movements of the arms, legs, and torso, improving neuromuscular coordination.
• Core Strength: Every movement in ballet originates from a strong, stable core.
• Endurance: Centre allegro work provides a cardiovascular workout, building stamina.
• Posture: Promotes excellent posture, alignment, and body awareness.
• Discipline and Focus: The precision and repetition inherent in ballet training foster mental discipline and concentration.

Conclusion: Embracing the Language of Movement

The terminology of ballet is a rich and precise language, with each term representing a specific, anatomically informed exercise. From the foundational pliés and tendus to the dynamic allegro jumps and elegant arabesques, these exercises are systematically designed to build a highly capable, resilient, and expressive body. For fitness enthusiasts and kinesiologists, understanding these terms provides not just vocabulary, but a deeper insight into the sophisticated biomechanics and artistic principles that underpin one of the most demanding and beautiful forms of physical training.