Kate's Dance Academy
Resources for pupils
Tap Theory
Students will be asked to demonstrate and explain different steps in the examination.
Straight Tap: Strike the ground with the ball of the foot and up (ankle only)
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Forward Tap: Strike ground with the ball of the foot forward and up (ankle only)
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Backward Tap: Strike ground with the ball of the foot backward and up (ankle only)
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Hop: Stand on one foot, spring in the air and and lightly on the ball of the same foot.
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Jump: Feet together, flex knees, spring into the air and land with feet together in any direction.
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Spring: Stand on one foot, spring into air and land lightly on the ball of the other foot.
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Drop: Stand on one foot, spring into the air and drop heavily on the ball or flat of the other foot.
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Stamp: Heavy downward beat onto flat of foot. Weight on supporting foot or working foot.
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Heel Beat: Flex knee, strike ground with heel finishing on ground with a heavier tone. Can be given in three ways: – standing on one foot; with ball of working foot on ground; as a sharp dig.
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Toe Tap: Bend knee, strike ground with toe and up sharply.
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Step: Transfer weight from one foot to ball of the other.
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Shuffle: A forward and backward tap given to the count of &1 or less.
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Ballchange: Change of balance from the ball of one foot to the ball or flat of the other foot, in any direction to the count of &1 or less.
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Tap Step: A forward tap followed immediately by a step. Weight on working or supporting foot.
Ballet Theory
Ballet candidates will be asked the meaning of the French definitions in examinations.
~ GRADE ONE ~
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Degage: Disengage/to release the foot from a closed to an open position
Demi: Half
Plie: Bend
Battement: Beat
Tendu: Stretch
En Croix: In the shape of a cross
Grand: Large
Retire: Draw up
Adage: Cut/ to cut the weight of the body from one foot to the other
Chasse: Slide
Fondu: Melt/a bend on the supporting leg
Glissade: Glide
Petit: Small
Jete: Throw
Saute: Spring
Echappe: Escape
Pose: Step
Temps leve: Hop
Devant: Front
Derriere: Back
En avant: Travelling forwards
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~ GRADE TWO ~
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Assemble: Assemble/join together
Soutenu: Sustain/Hold
En Dehors: Outwards
En Dedans: Inwards
En Arriere: Travelling Backwards
Releve: Rise/ A snatch of the feet
Ports De Bras: Carriage of the arms
Croise: Crossed
Ouvert: Open
En Face: Facing the front/audience
Passe: Pass
Enchainement: Chain of steps/ Linking together of two or more steps
Changement: Change
Soubresaut: Simple jump without a change of feet.
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~ GRADE THREE ~
Rond De Jambe: Circle of the leg
A Terre: On the ground
Arabesque: Represents the shape of a bow/ a position on one leg, the other in 4th position, 1st a terre or en l’air
De Cote: Facing the side
Demi – Detourne: Half a turn towards the back foot
Pas De Chat: Step of a cat
Pas De Bourree: Small running steps/ Consisting of three movements (5th, 2nd, 5th)
Pas De Basque: A step from the basque country representing the swirl of a skirt
Sissone: A scissor movement from two feet onto one foot.
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~ GRADE FOUR ~
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Developpe: Unfold
Frappe: Strike/Hit
Pirouette: Spin on one leg
En L’air: In the air
Attitude: A position on one leg, the other in 4th opposite 5th a terre
or en l’air.
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~ GRADE FIVE ~
Sur-le-cou-pied: The neck of the foot
Epaulment: Use of the shoulders with one shoulder forward the other back; the head over the front over the front shoulder; the turn coming from the upper back.
Ballonne: Bounce
Simple: A simple ballone with the accent on the inward movement
Compose: A compound step with the accent on the outward movement followed by a step and close
Demi Contretemps: Temps leve in arabesque followed by a chasse passé en avant
Battu: Beaten