SOME HELPFUL BALLET TERMS

Permanent Guest Artist-

A dancer who appears when he or she wishes, in roles which he or she chooses. (ie Vladamir Malakov of the National Ballet of Canada is an example.) This allows dancers to maintain an association with different companies at one time, and as the dancers are not on contract, it cuts costs for the company.

Abstract Ballet-

dancers appear as figures in a pattern and only mark a cerebral relationship, without the creation of mood or character. (ie the ballets of Frederic Ashton)

Narrative ballet/Ballet D'action-

Ballet where the mainspring of the conception is plot and character- for example, Romeo and Juliet.

Classical ballet-(romantic and narrative)

Classical forms, pattern and movement are the primary consideration. In romantic ballet, conveyance of mood is the focus. The narrative describes the purpose of the ballet in relation to a series of events. (ie Swan Lake, Giselle, La Sylphide)

Character Dancer-

There are two definitions for this: 1)One who dances roles based on a folk or national dance of a particular country either superficial or authentic. (ie the Arabian Dance in the Nutcracker)
2)A dancer who plays roles where the purpose is to express a clearly defined personality. (ie the sorcerer Rothbart in Swan Lake.)

Corps de ballet-

A chorus of dancers used mostly in classical ballets.

Danseur/Danseuse-

The male/female dancer.

Pas de Deux-

A Dance for two.

Divertisement-

Applied to ballets containing no story, theme or mood. The sole aim is to display the dancers to the best advantage. It forms an abstract parallel or a visual pattern to the music. It also refers to a showpiece in a ballet, to showcase the dancers with no relation to the plot. (ie the 32 fouettes in Swan Lake.)

Free Dance-

Originally used to describe untrained dancers who performed with the aid of inspiration, not technique. Now a recognized art form, Glen Tetley is one of the most well known users of this form.

Fouette-

A type of spin in ballet where the dancer stands with their left leg raised in front of them, while they throw their right leg around the side, rise on their left toe, whipping the ritght foot into the left knee as they turn. TO turn again, they extened the right foot to the audience and lower the left heel, slightly bending their left knee.

Method-

The french concentrated on foot work and elegant elaborate arm movements, whereas the Italian method relies on technique. The Danish and Russian methods developed from the French mode, which is most commonly used.

Prima Ballerina/Premier Danseur-

The principal female/male dancer of a ballet company. (ie Karen Kain and Rex Harrington of the National Ballet of Canada.)

Pointe-

The dancer dances on the tips of her toes wtih the help of specially blocked shoes called Toe Shoes.

Psychological ballet-

This ballet shows what people do and why, expanding beyond the plot or theme. Many of James Kudelka's ballets are psychological. (ie Washington Square)

Symphonic ballet-

Popular through the 1930's, it is a ballet choreographed to the musical accompanement of symphonies. (ie Kudelka's Pastorale or his recent Four Seasons.) Begun by Leonde Massine, Symphonic Variations by Balanchine is another excellent example.

Classicism-

When said of a dancer, it means she performs steps as taught in class without affectation or mannerism.

Line/Ligne-

Loosely adapted from painting.Every group and position on stage should have a dominant line supplemented either by contrast or parallel by the other lines.

Maitresse de Ballet-

In ballet's early days, when choreographer meant dance notator, the maitre de ballet was the arranger of dances. Today, the term is used to designate the person responsible for rehearsing ballets in the repertory, for taking daily classes, and occasionally for casting. (which is usually handled by the director or artistic director of the company, or the choreographer.)

(All terms taken from A Dictionary of Ballet Terms by Leo Kersley and Janet Sinclair.)

Now that you're familiar with some ballet terminology, take a look at my Unofficial National Ballet of Canada Pages.

The unofficial National Ballet of Canada Pages
National Ballet continued
National Photo Gallery
Swan Lake Page, and Ballet links.
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