VOCABULARY
DANCE
1st Position- Heels together, toes out
turned out from the hip, arms rounded
infront like hugging a beachball, hands
should line up infront of the sturnum.
2nd Position- Legs a little more than shoulder
width apart, legs turned out,
arms out like hugging a giant tree trunk
3rd Position- The heel of one
foot is placed near the inside of the arch of the
other. Creating what might look
like the letter T. Knees are squeezed tight
together, legs are straight, upperbody
has nice posture, the same arms as
the heel forward should be rounded over head like coving yourself from the
rain, the other arm remains in 2nd position.
4th Position- Both legs are turned out
from the hip. One leg is placed directly
infront of the other so the toes and
heels line up. Hip should be squared to
the front. The same arms as leg should be forward. The arm that is forward
should look like first position. The other arms should be up above the head
as if it were in high 5th. Shoulders should be squared to the front.
5th Position- Both legs are turned out from the hip.
One leg is placed directly
infront of the other so the front heel touches the
back toe. Hips should be
squared to the front. Both arms are rounded above
the head. Shoulders
should be squared to the front.
Chaine- A Chain...This is because the turns
link together like a chain. Chaine
can be done in plie or releve. Legs
are turned out, legs are stepping from
2nd position to 1st position, arms open in 2nd to the front and close in 1st
to the back, spotting is important to help you stay in a straight line and to
prevent dizziness.
Chasse- To Chase...Legs glide in 4th position-plie,
to 5th position in the air,
back down to 4th position plie. Legs are turned out, always lead with the
toes pointed, arms in opposition, the same leg stays in front the entire time
during one chasse.
Demi- Half
Grande- Full or Large
Jete- To Throw...A jump from one foot to
another. Can be done to the front,
back or side. Legs begin and land in plie to avoid injury. While in the air
legs are straight, toes are pointed, legs are turned out from the hip, upper
body has good posture, and legs are trying to achieve splits in the air.
Pas De Chat- Step Of The Cat...One chaine in plie to prepare, the
first
leg is brought up to ballet passe as the
other begins to go up to
ballet passe, at the climax of the jump both
legs are equally high in
passe and head is facing front, the first
leg lands turned out and the
2nd leg lands front in 5th position,
Passe- To Pass...(the foot passes the knee)
One straight supporting leg,
other leg is bent, toe & heel are
connected to the supporting knee, foot
is pointed, knee is forward.
Pirouette- A Spin...In the form we use
for our team one leg will be in passe,
and the other will be straight and
in releve. Arms will be in 1st position
(unless choreographed otherwise), stomach
tight and back straight,
shoulders are down, neck is long, and your head must spot while you are
turning.
Plie- To Bend
Releve- To Rise or Elevate
Spotting - Find a focal point at eye level.
As you turn, whip your head around
to find that point again. Make sure that your chin remains parallel to the
floor. Try not to tilt the head or let your neck move out of alignment with
the spine.
Tondu- To Stretch or Extend (usually the
leg/foot)
DRILL
High "V"
Low "V"
"T"
Broken "T"- Hands infront of shoulders,
elbows in line horizontally
Daggers- Elbows in ribs, hands infront
of shoulders
Touchdown- Both arms straight up, elbows
straight
Candlesticks- Arms straight out in front- hands
facing in
Buckets- Arms straight out in front- hands
facing down
Check Mark- One arm is straight at a diagonal with
the palm down, the other arm has the elbow
tightly pushed into the rib, forearm is at a
diagonal with palm up.
Double Check Mark-Both elbows tight in ribs,
forearms at a diagonal with palms up
Jazz Hands- Fingers straight and spread
apart from each other
Blades- Hands Flat and all fingers are
tight together, thumbs slightly bent
in to index finger to avoid the natural
curve out.
Fists- all four figers curled under and
your thumb should be placed along the
knuckle closest to the fingernails.
Ripple- the same movement done by every
member one at a time, in a row.
Timing must be continually fluid
for the correct visual effect.
DRILL DOWN COMMANDS:
Parade Rest- Step to side with left leg,
arms behind back. The only command that can be executed from this position is attention (1 count)
Attention- Step together with left leg,
arms come down to sides in blades (1 count)
Right Face- turn 90 degrees right
by pivoting on right heel and left toe & close heels (2 counts)
Left Face- Turn 90 degrees left by
pivoting on left heel and right toe & close heels (2 counts)
About Face- dig right foot behind left,
turn 180 degrees and close heels (2 counts)
1/2 Faces (R or L)- same as full face except
only turn 45 degrees (2 counts)
Hand Salute- right hand in blade comes
to eyebrow and left hand comes to hip & down (2 counts)
Double Arm Dress- Bring both arms forward in
blades to a candlestick position, then out to a
T. (This is meant to help you make sure you are in line
with someone front-to-back & side-to-side. The only command that can be executed from this position is Ready Front (2 counts)
Ready Front- From Double Arm Dress bring
both arms back to blades in candlestick position,
and down to sides. (2 counts)
Mark Time March- Mark time means to march
in place. The caller will say this to let you know the tempo
they expect you to march. Lift your LEFT leg on the word "Up". LEFT foot Must be on
the ground when the caller says "Left". You will always start marching on your LEFT foot. Arms go behind your back.
Forward March-Begin marching forward on
the left foot. Left foot must be on the ground when caller says "Left"
Squad Halt- this is called when it is time
to stop marching. Step left and close right after
the word "halt". Your toes and heels will end together, arms come back down to your
sides. (2 counts)
By The Numbers-Commands are executed in order as the caller
says the correct number. Only used for stationary commands, and does not apply to marching commands. Continues until the caller
cancels by the numbers.
