Our Dancer Ornaments are 5.5 inches long, including the 3 inch gold cord hanging loop. The little Dancer is standing on one toe with both arms above her head. She is wearing a blue Dance costume with a small pink rose decoration at the neck and a blue tutu and blue ballet slippers with iridescent glitter highlights. She has two pink roses holding her ponytail.
Ballet Dancing Terms.
- Pas.
- Pas is a dance step. It is also a dance, such as pas seul.
- Pas Seul.
- Pas Seul is a solo dance.
- Pas de Deux.
- Pas de Deux is a dance for two persons.
- Pirouette.
- A pirouette is a complete turn of the body, the weight resting on one foot.
- Plie.
- Plie is a bending of the knee.
- Point Work.
- Point work is dancing on the tips of the toes with the support of special ballet shoes.
- Port de bras.
- Port de bras is the technique of moving the arms. It is also the name of the exercise through which this technique is developed or displayed.
- Position.
- Position is one of the five positions of the feet on which ballet dancing is based, each position accompanied by a certain arm movement. The hells are together in first position. The working foot is extended to the side in second position. The heel of the working foot touches the instep of the supporting foot in the third position. The working foot extends ahead of the other in the fourth position. The heel of the working foot touches the toe of the supporting foot in fifth position.
- Releve.
- Releve is the raising of the body on the toe.
- Reverence.
- Reverence is a bow or series of bows at the end of a class.
- Rond de Jambe.
- Rond de Jambe is a circular movement of the leg with the foot on the floor or in the air.
- Tendu.
- Tendu is a ballet exercise in which the foot is stretched away from the body but still touches the floor.
- Turnout.
- Turnout is the basic position of the legs and feet in ballet. The legs are completely turned outward, with the feet forming a straight line with the heels together.
- Tutu.
- A tutu is a short, very full skirt, made of layer of net fabric, worn by female ballet dancers.
Ballet Training.
To become an accomplished ballet dancer requires many years of intensive training, begun at an early age, usually about 8 years old. Dancers continue to take classes throughout their careers to maintain their skills.
The ideal ballet dancer has a well proportioned body with long legs and a slender torso. A dancer needs flexibility, strength, discipline and control. The dancer also must have a good sense of rhythm and musical phrasing plus dramatic expressiveness. However, many ballet dancers do not start with ideal bodies. They work hard for years to achieve the physical qualities needed for ballet.
In choosing a teacher the student or parent should carefully consider the instructors background and experience. Teachers without the proper qualifications can cause the student harm and even physical injury. Poor teaching will delay a dancer’s progress, forcing him or her to unlearn the incorrect lessons before mastering proper technique. Many teachers are active or retired performers. However, good teaches need not have been ballet dancers themselves.
Some ballet companies operate their own schools, training students for eventual membership in the company. They usually admit children as students after auditions. Other companies hold classes open the public.