Ballet Terminology

noun a light, entertaining performance or activity

verb None

adjective None

adverb None

pronoun None

preposition None

conjunction None

interjection None

article None

• The opera included a divertissement in the form of a ballet performance.
• We watched a divertissement of acrobatics at the circus.
• Let's go see a divertissement at the fair, it'll be fun!
• The magician's trick was a divertissement from the main act.

noun a skillful glide over snow or ice in descending a mountain, as on skis or a toboggan

verb to perform a glissade

• The ballerina executed a flawless glissade across the stage.
• I tried to do a glissade on the ice, but ended up slipping and falling.
• Check out that skater's sick glissade move!
• She glissaded through the crowded room, effortlessly navigating her way to the other side.

noun a type of dance move in ballet where a dancer spins on one foot with the other raised and turned out

• The ballerina executed a flawless pirouette during the performance.
• She spun around in a perfect pirouette on the dance floor.
• Did you see that sick pirouette she just did?
• His argument took a sudden pirouette, shifting the focus of the conversation.

verb to be balanced or held in a steady position

adjective having a composed and self-assured manner

• The company is poised for significant growth in the upcoming quarter.
• She looks poised to win the competition with her skills.
• He's always poised to party whenever there's an opportunity.
• The dancer was poised like a graceful swan on the stage.

noun a movement in which a dancer bends the knees and straightens them again, usually with the feet turned out and heels firmly on the ground

• The ballet dancer executed a perfect plié during the performance.
• Make sure to bend your knees when you do a plié in ballet class.
• I can't wait to nail that plié move in our dance routine.
• In order to navigate through life's challenges, sometimes you need to plié and gracefully move forward.

noun a horizontal bar at waist height used for ballet exercises and practice

• The ballet dancer gracefully performed a series of movements at the barre.
• Let's try out that new barre workout class together.
• I heard that barre class is killer for toning your legs.
• She used the criticism as a barre to improve her writing skills.