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Ballet [ba-LAY] A theatrical work or
entertainment in which a
choreographer has expressed his
ideas in group and solo dancing
to a musical accompaniment with
appropriate costumes, scenery
and
lighting.
Choreography, choregraphy This is a term used to describe
the actual steps, groupings and
patterns of a ballet or dance
composition.
Classical ballet (1) The traditional style of
ballet, which stresses the
academic technique developed
through the centuries of the
existence of
ballet.(2) A ballet in which the style
and structure adhere to the
definite framework established
in the nineteenth century.
Examples of classical ballets
are Coppélia, The
Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker
and Swan
Lake.
Coda (1) The finale of a classical
ballet in which all the
principal dancers appear
separately or with their
partners.(2) The final dance of the
classic pas de deux, pas de
trois or pas de
quatre.
Divertissement [dee-vehr-tees-MAHNLAY] Diversion, enjoyment. A suite
of numbers called
"entrées,"
inserted into a classic
ballet. These short dances are
calculated to display the
talents of individuals or
groups of
dancers.
Pas de deux, grand [grahn pah duh duh] Grand dance for two. It
differs from the simple pas de
deux in that it has a definite
structure. As a general rule
the grand pas de deux falls
into five parts:
entrée, adage,
variation for the danseuse,
variation for the danseur, and
the coda, in which both
dancers dance
together.
Romantic ballet A style of ballet produced
during the early nineteenth
century in which the accent
was on the conveyance of a
mood to a story. Example of
romantic ballets are La
Sylphide and
Giselle.
Variation [va-rya-SYAWN] Variation. A solo dance in a
classic
ballet.
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