List of Ballet Movements
Classical ballet developed in 15th century Europe in the courts of France and Italy. Over the centuries, teachers and choreographers have standardized the movements of ballet to facilitate the further development and training of dancers. Though classical ballet is a demanding and complicated art form comprised of numerous intricate steps, most of the common movements in ballet are variations on a few basic categories.
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Turns
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Ballet has many forms of turns, which serve to display the balancing power of the dancer and to show the body from all angles. Very advanced dancers can execute turns with multiple rotations. The landing of an impressive turn must be controlled and deliberate. Advanced female dancers execute turns on pointe shoes, the specialized dance shoe that allows ballerinas to balance on the tip of their toe. Ballerinas can execute more turns on pointe when supported by a male partner than when performing solo. The ability to complete more than three rotations in a turn is considered a highly advanced feat. Male dancers at the professional level can complete more than seven rotations in a single turn.
Jumps and Leaps
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While jumps in ballet are difficult to execute, well-trained dancers make them appear easy. In general, a leap travels, while a jump lands in the same place from where the dancer took off. It is important for dancers to bend their knees as they prepare to leave the ground as well as when they land, to achieve a higher position in the air as well as to avoid injury. The goal of the jump or leap is to create the illusion of weightlessness and the idea that the dancer has defied gravity. The higher the dancer flies into the air, the more impressive the feat. The landing must be soft and controlled to maintain the image of grace and ease.
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Extensions
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An extension to the back is called an "arabesque." Ballet requires extreme flexibility. Dancers regularly stretch and perform specific exercises to elongate their muscles and prepare for the moves and poses which require strong but supple limbs. Ballet dancers may demonstrate their strength, balance and flexibility by extending a leg to the front, side or back of the body in a long, straight line. Female dancers may do this during a solo or as part of a "pas de deux," which is a partner dance performed by male and female dancers in principal roles.
Traveling Steps
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Many of the transitional steps in ballet that will link these other, more impressive moves together are based on waltzes. The 1-2-3 timing of the waltz complements the classical music most commonly utilized with ballet choreography. Other moves that link larger steps together are "ballet runs" and "ballet walks," which are stylized methods of traveling or preparing for a leap while maintaining the grace of a ballet dancer.
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References
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