IBBFA BARRE CERTIFICATION CHAPTER 3 - DEFINITIONS &
TERMS 100% VERIFIED
Attitude
An attitude position is balanced on one supporting leg with the working leg lifted in back
with the knee bent at an angle of about 90 degrees and very turned out. The concept of
attitude can be difficult to describe and execute with non-dancers. In this series, the
attitude will be utilized in both a turned-out and parallel position
Barre
The ballet barre is a horizontal bar made of wood or metal that is approximately waist
height. It is typically used for ballet class warm-up and recently for group fitness and
Pilates classes. Students are taught to not rely on the barre so much but rather to treat
it like a partner, holding on gently and still supporting their own weight. This concept
will be taught throughout this manual. The barre is a tool used to improve balance,
flexibility, and strength.
Battement
Battement means "beating". It is basically a large kick that travels through tendu,
brushing up into the air 45 degrees or higher and then is brought down again with
control. In the Barre Certification exercises, the battement will lift from a tendu and
lower back down to the same tendu position without actually brushing the foot through
the floor. While the battement is typically used to loosen the hip joints, the tabletop
series will utilize it to tone the legs and glute muscles.
À la sebesque
À la sebesque is a combination of à la seconde and arabesque. This is a term that the
barre instructors utilize, though it is not typically used in common ballet terminology. To
achieve an à la sebesque position, the working leg is placed in a tendu, degagé, or
grande battement in a position that is midway between arabesque and à la seconde. An
easy way to visualize where the leg should be in à la sebesque is to think of the leg
, reaching to the corner of the room when facing the barre.
À la seconde ballet
Meaning "to the side" or a movement in second position, à la seconde is when the
working leg is placed in a tendu, degagé, or grande battement directly from the hip to
the side. In this position, it is important to maintain the integrity of the hips and turn-out.
The hips should remain facing front and the leg rotated in the hip to allow the leg to lift
higher.
Arabesque
The arabesque is one of the basic poses in ballet. This pose takes its name from a form
of Moorish ornament. It is a position that is balanced on one supporting leg with the
working leg straight and lifted in back. In ballet, the supporting leg can be straight or
bent in demi-plié, but the working leg must be straight behind the supporting leg.
Coupé
Coupé (meaning "to cut") is the position of the legs in which the 'working' leg is bent and
the foot is connected to the standing leg. The heel of the working leg should connect
between the Achilles tendon and calf of the standing leg. Both legs should be externally
rotated from the hips.
Devant
Meaning "in the front," devant refers to any step or movement that occurs in front of the
body. In this stretching series, the leg will be placed devant, or in front of the body, on
the barre with the hips squared off—in other words, hips even with the shoulders.
Elevé
Elevé means "to rise" in French. It is a rise from flat feet all the way to the balls of the
TERMS 100% VERIFIED
Attitude
An attitude position is balanced on one supporting leg with the working leg lifted in back
with the knee bent at an angle of about 90 degrees and very turned out. The concept of
attitude can be difficult to describe and execute with non-dancers. In this series, the
attitude will be utilized in both a turned-out and parallel position
Barre
The ballet barre is a horizontal bar made of wood or metal that is approximately waist
height. It is typically used for ballet class warm-up and recently for group fitness and
Pilates classes. Students are taught to not rely on the barre so much but rather to treat
it like a partner, holding on gently and still supporting their own weight. This concept
will be taught throughout this manual. The barre is a tool used to improve balance,
flexibility, and strength.
Battement
Battement means "beating". It is basically a large kick that travels through tendu,
brushing up into the air 45 degrees or higher and then is brought down again with
control. In the Barre Certification exercises, the battement will lift from a tendu and
lower back down to the same tendu position without actually brushing the foot through
the floor. While the battement is typically used to loosen the hip joints, the tabletop
series will utilize it to tone the legs and glute muscles.
À la sebesque
À la sebesque is a combination of à la seconde and arabesque. This is a term that the
barre instructors utilize, though it is not typically used in common ballet terminology. To
achieve an à la sebesque position, the working leg is placed in a tendu, degagé, or
grande battement in a position that is midway between arabesque and à la seconde. An
easy way to visualize where the leg should be in à la sebesque is to think of the leg
, reaching to the corner of the room when facing the barre.
À la seconde ballet
Meaning "to the side" or a movement in second position, à la seconde is when the
working leg is placed in a tendu, degagé, or grande battement directly from the hip to
the side. In this position, it is important to maintain the integrity of the hips and turn-out.
The hips should remain facing front and the leg rotated in the hip to allow the leg to lift
higher.
Arabesque
The arabesque is one of the basic poses in ballet. This pose takes its name from a form
of Moorish ornament. It is a position that is balanced on one supporting leg with the
working leg straight and lifted in back. In ballet, the supporting leg can be straight or
bent in demi-plié, but the working leg must be straight behind the supporting leg.
Coupé
Coupé (meaning "to cut") is the position of the legs in which the 'working' leg is bent and
the foot is connected to the standing leg. The heel of the working leg should connect
between the Achilles tendon and calf of the standing leg. Both legs should be externally
rotated from the hips.
Devant
Meaning "in the front," devant refers to any step or movement that occurs in front of the
body. In this stretching series, the leg will be placed devant, or in front of the body, on
the barre with the hips squared off—in other words, hips even with the shoulders.
Elevé
Elevé means "to rise" in French. It is a rise from flat feet all the way to the balls of the
