The Original Steps

Understanding the etymology of ballet seems academic and boring, but perhaps they are the key to understanding the evolution of ballet technique and the principles that guide the art form. There are seven movements for dance. These words are often referenced by the evolution of the word and its spelling. These seven concepts were developed by Jean Georges Noverre, who wrote Lettres Sur la dance les ballets in 1760, which revolutionized and progressed the technique.

Because of the Gail Grant book, the following has become the accepted form of understanding and translations, but if we dig a little deeper, there is a lot more to it. In 1760, ballet had moved to small stages, the first academy was in full swing, the five positions of the feet were being used, and women were becoming more and more prominent in the ballet scene changing the way movements were done.

Plier
Pronunciation: plee-AY
Translation: to bend

This is often credited as the meaning “to bend.” And how we now get the very common plié. However, plier, and earlier plier means to fold, bend, or from the latin plicate to lay, fold, twist. So it isn’t to simply just bend one’s knees. In fact the meaning is much more intricate than just to bend.

Étendre
Pronunciation: ay-TAHN-druh
Translation: to stretch (the limbs)

While today re clearly reference éntendre to tendu, the etymology of the world is pretty fascinating. Inherited from middle French estendre, or latin extendere, the transitive and reflexive verb is to spread, or to spread out, to layout, to expand, to enlarge. The word itself can also refer to limbs, which is how we get to technique of tendu. But the visualization of the word for common people really was to spread or extend.

Relever
Pronunciation: ruhl-VAY
Translation: to raise, to lift

Interesting story when it comes to this verb. It actually means to lift again. My hypothesis is that at the time the publishing of these movements, ballet was still done heels. So, my hypothesis is the lift again, or rise again, comes from the heel already being off of the floor.

Sauter
Pronunciation: Soh-TAY
Translation: to jump

Tourner
Pronunciation: Toor-NAY
TranslationL to turn around

Inherited from middle french tourney, and the Old French corner, and from latin tornāre, this verb has multiple meanings including to turn, to rotate, to return, to go back, to turn into, to change into.

The two most important of the seven: When it comes to the seven original movements of ballet, many classify the first five being universal to other forms of dance, and translatable to other genres. They also describe movements or actions, where the next two describe qualities, and intentions behind a  step. These two steps are unique and embedded to all ballet techniques.

Glisser
Pronunciation: glee-SAY
Translation: to glide

Élancer
Pronunciation: ay-lahn-SAY
Translation: to dart