FRENCH TERMS AND THEORY - GENERAL
DEVANT in front
DERRIERE behind
DE COTE to the side
EN AVANT forwards
EN ARRIERE backwards
EN FACE facing the front
CROISE crossed
OUVERT open
ADAGE slow, sustained movement
ALLEGRO lively, jumping movement
BRAS arms
DEMI half
DESSOUS (UNDER) front to back
DESSUS (OVER) back to front
PETIT small
GRAND big
A TERRE on the ground
EN L'AIR in the air
FRENCH TERMS AND THEORY - Grade 1
PLIE a bend of two knees
BATTMENTS TENDUS to point or to stretch
EN CROIX in the shape of a cross
GRANDS BATTMENTS big and beaten
RETIRE to withdraw or draw up
PORTS DE BRAS carriage of the arms
CHASSEE to slide
DEGAGE to disengage
POSE to step
SAUTE to jump
PETITS JETES little springs
TEMPSLEVE to hop
CHANGEMENT jump changing feet
Recognise, clap and know the time signatures of:
POLKA 2/4
WALTZ 3/4
MARCH 4/4
FRENCH TERMS AND THEORY - Grade II
(ALL TERMS FROM GRADE I MUST ALSO BE KNOWN)
RONDS DE JAMBE round of the leg
A TERRE on the ground
EN DEHORS outwards
EN DEDANS inwards
ASSEMBLE to assemble
SOUTENU to sustain
RELEVE to pull up or snatch
CROISE crossed
OUVERT open
EN FACE facing the front
EN L'AIR in the air
DEMI-DETOURNE half a turn
JETE to throw
GLISSADE to glide
PAS DE CHAT step of a cat
ECHAPPE to escape
RECOGNISE AND CLAP:
SEMIBREVES (4 beats) MINIMS (2 beats)
CROTCHETS (1 beat) QUAVERS (½ beat)
FRENCH TERMS AND THEORY - Grade III
(ALL TERMS FROM PREVIOUS GRADES MUST ALSO BE KNOWN)
FRAPPE to strike
DEVELOPPE to unfold
COUPE to cut
SISSONNE a jump from 2 feet to 1 foot
(described as a scissor jump)
PAS DE BOURREE a travelling step
ORDINAIRE ordinary
FRENCH TERMS AND THEORY - Grade IV
(ALL TERMS FROM PREVIOUS GRADES MUST ALSO BE KNOWN)
BATTEMENTS to beat
SUR LE COU DE PIED on/around the ankle
BATTEMENTS FONDUS to melt
EPAULEMENT with the use of the shoulders
TEMPS LIE to link
BALLONE to bounce
CHANGEE to change (feet)
CONTRETEMPS against the time
BATTU beaten
FERME closed
FRENCH TERMS AND THEORY - Grade V
(ALL TERMS FROM PREVIOUS GRADES MUST ALSO BE KNOWN)
FOUETTE to whip
A DEUX BRAS with 2 arms
PASSE to pass
EN DIAGONALE on the diagonal
EN TOURNANT turning
GRAND big
ENTRECHAT to weave
QUATRE four
FRENCH TERMS AND THEORY - Grade VI
(ALL TERMS FROM PREVIOUS GRADES MUST ALSO BE KNOWN)
EN CLOCHE like a bell
EN ROND round
RACCOURCI shortened
TROIS three
ENTRECHAT to weave
PIQUE picked up
COURUS running
FRENCH TERMS AND THEORY - INTERMEDIATE
(ALL TERMS FROM PREVIOUS GRADES MUST ALSO BE KNOWN)
TOMBER to fall
A DOS with the use of the back
ECARTE separated / thrown open
EMBOITE to dovetail
BRISE to break