Dance terms are the shared vocabulary that lets dancers learn choreography, discuss movement, and perform with consistency across styles and studios. This guide explains common steps, positions, directions, and abbreviations you will encounter in classes, rehearsals, and performances. Whether you are new to class or looking to clarify terminology, these fundamentals support reliable, long-term understanding. Each term is framed by what it is, how it is used, and why it matters in everyday practice.
Basic Positions and Posture
First Position
In first position, a dancer stands with heels touching and toes pointing outward at about a 45-degree angle. This closed stance supports balance and alignment in ballet and many other dance forms. Teachers commonly use first position to introduce proper posture, turnout, and weight distribution. Keeping the knees aligned over the toes and the core engaged helps maintain safe, effective placement.
Second Position
Second position widens the base by placing the feet parallel and roughly hip-width apart, with arms rounded at shoulder height. This open stance promotes balance and spatial awareness. It is frequently used as a transitional position and a starting point for traveling steps. Maintaining turnout from the hips while staying relaxed in the shoulders supports sustainable technique.
Turnout
Turnout refers to the rotation of the legs outward from the hip sockets, so that the feet and knees point away from the centerline of the body. In ballet and many technical styles, turnout enables greater stability, range of motion, and expressive line. Safe turnout relies on hip mobility rather than knee or ankle twisting. Assessing turnout angle with a qualified teacher helps prevent strain and injury.
Common Steps and Movements
Plié
A plié is a controlled bend of the knees while maintaining turnout and a stable torso. It trains strength, flexibility, and coordination in the legs and feet. Pliés are used both as standalone exercises and within jumps and turns to absorb impact. Executing a smooth plié involves lowering with control and rising through the foot without collapsing at the knees.
Relevé
Relevé describes the action of rising onto the balls of the feet or toes, often from a flat foot or plié. In ballet, relevé may be performed slowly in the center or quickly in petit allegro. Strong ankles, calves, and core engagement help maintain balance and proper alignment. Teachers commonly cue a relevé to develop elevation control and foot articulation.
Chassé
A chassé is a gliding step in which one foot chases or replaces the other, creating a smooth side-to-side or forward movement. It appears frequently in jazz, contemporary, and social dance, and serves as a basic traveling step. Timing and footwork clarity are key, especially when multiple chassés are sequenced in longer combinations.
Jeté
Jeté, meaning thrown, describes a leap where one leg pushes off the floor and the other follows through into the air. Jetés are common in ballet and lyrical styles and are often performed traveling across the floor or in combinations. Clear airborne line and soft landing help maintain clean execution and reduce joint stress.
Directions and Body Orientation
En Face, En Croix, and En Diagonale
These directional terms describe the angle of the body or movement in space. En face means facing the front; en croix refers to movements oriented to the four points of a cross (front, side, back, side); en diagonale indicates diagonal angles between these points. Consistent use of these terms helps instructors give precise corrections and supports reliable spatial memory during practice.
Stage Right and Stage Left
Stage right and stage left refer to the performer’s right and left from their perspective while facing the audience. These directions are standard in theater and technical dance contexts. Clear understanding prevents confusion during blocking and ensures that formations and cues are executed accurately in rehearsals and performances.
Upstage and Downstage
Upstage is the area farthest from the audience, while downstage is closest. Choreographers and stage managers may use these terms primarily in theater settings to manage sightlines and transitions. Although some venues are configured differently, knowing the relative meanings supports confident navigation of performance spaces.
Rhythm, Tempo, and Musicality
Count and Phrase
Dancers often count movements in beats, such as eight-count phrases, to organize steps and synchronize with music. A phrase is a musical segment, typically four or eight counts, that groups steps into coherent units. Understanding phrasing supports timing, expressiveness, and cleaner entrances and exits within group formations.
Accent and Dynamics
Accent refers to emphasis placed on a particular beat or movement, while dynamics describe variations in speed, force, and energy. Accents may be created through sharper timing, stronger initiation, or increased spatial level. Dynamic control allows dancers to shape musicality and convey emotion through varied movement quality.
Standard Abbreviations and Shortcuts
Dance notation and verbal instructions often use abbreviated terms to communicate efficiently. These abbreviations appear frequently in class notes, rehearsal instructions, and written choreography. Familiarity with common symbols helps dancers quickly interpret combinations and apply corrections.
| Term | Meaning | Common Context |
|---|---|---|
| PL | Plié | Stretch and bend of the knees |
| RLV | Relevé | Rise to the balls of the feet or toes |
| CHS | Chassé | Gliding step, side to side or forward |
| JET | Jeté | Thrown leap from one foot to the other |
| ENF | En face | Facing the front |
| SR | Stage right | Performer’s right from audience view |
Turn, Spotting, and Rotation Techniques
Turns rely on coordinated momentum, core stability, and precise spotting. Spotting is a technique where a dancer fixates on a point and quickly shifts focus to maintain orientation during rotation. This reduces dizziness and keeps turns clean, balanced, and accurately aligned. Practicing simple turns with controlled spotting builds confidence and long-term technical development.
Across the Floor and Center Work
Across the floor refers to traveling movement sequences, such as combinations of jetés, chassés, and turns that move diagonally or lengthwise through the space. Center work denotes exercises and phrases performed in the middle of the floor, emphasizing balance, alignment, and control. Both settings help dancers integrate steps, directions, and rhythms into cohesive performance quality.
Musical Notation and Timing Cues
Musical notation for dance commonly uses measures, beats, and accents to structure counts and phrasing. Time signatures like 4/4 indicate four beats per measure, while tempo markings suggest overall speed. Dancers read counts aloud, listen for downbeats, and mark timing internally to stay synchronized with fellow performers and live or recorded music.
Contemporary and Cross-Genre Language
Many contemporary and commercial styles blend terminology from ballet, jazz, hip-hop, and cultural forms. While foundational terms remain consistent, some genres introduce unique phrasing or reinterpret positions to suit their aesthetics. Dancers who understand the origins and standard meanings can adapt more easily to evolving vocabularies and collaborative environments.