(The following information has been supplied by Jan Tu, our primary describer for ballet.)

The following list of ballet terms is designed to make it easier to understand to audio described dance. While it does not include every movement and body position, I have provided easy terms for the most common ones. I begin with body positions and movements for one dancer, then movements for two dancers, and finally terms to describe choreography of groups.

Terms Applying to a Single Dancer

▼ Body Position:

Neutral: the dancer stands with feet together and arms softly curved to the side as if holding a very broad tray.

On point: dancing on the end of the fully extended foot, made possible by toe shoes.

Arch: Bending back the upper torso. Bend: Bending forward the upper torso.

Star or Arabesque: the dancer stands on one straight leg, the other leg is pointed back, the head is lifted up, the arms reach out to the side, altogether like a stretched out star. The star can be arched back, bent forward or with bent arms and/or legs.

▼ Movement:

Turn: one 360° rotation.

Spin: two or more complete turns in quick succession.

Leg-fold: bending the knees by bringing the toe of the bending leg to the knee of the supporting leg; ballet dancers always keep their knees pointed to the side when they fold their legs.

Unfold: straightening of the folded leg, usually to above horizontal, even above the dancers own head.

Split: straight legs spread so wide they form a straight line.

Straddle: legs straight & apart while standing, like an upside down V.

Flutter: an appendage vibrates back and forth, usually a foot while pointed to the other ankle.

Lunge: the dancer stands with both legs on the ground, with one bent leg while the other, non-supporting leg is straight out either to the front, side or back.

▼ Types of jumps:

Jump: Jumps that do not rise far off the ground.

Split Jump: a jump with legs straight out to the side or front.

Hitch kick: One leg kicks off the floor and before it returns to the floor the second leg kicks off the floor; the first leg then lands followed by the second.

Flutter jump: dancer can flutter legs back and forth.

▼ Moving through space:

Shuffle: movement where dancer does not lift the feet but slides them across the floor.

Waltz: three quick steps to a waltz beat.

Leap: jump that moves across or around the stage, can be combined with a turns.

▼ Support terminology: Two dancers

Support: usually a male dancer who supports another dancer, usually female, balancing and dancing on point. The support will often turn the balancer by walking in a circle, the balancer pivoting on point. If the balance is very good, the balancer will remove the hand from the support and briefly balance alone.

Supported: The supported dancer might have a hand on the hand, shoulder, back, arm or extended leg of the support.

Hold: one dancer, usually male, holds another dancer, usually female, off the floor at his chest level.

Lift: a male dancer holds a female dancer above his shoulder level or even above his head.

Terms for a Group of Dancers

Bridge: two dancers hold hands forming an archway with their arms that other dancers duck under.

Wave: a short movement done in quick succession by a line of dancers.

Column: Description of dancers positioned from the back to the front of the stage in one or more columns.

Row: Dancers positioned from the left and right of the stage in one or more rows.

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