The Ballet Manila Archives is the repository of documents, print, photographic, audio and video materials and memorabilia relating to the history of Ballet Manila and the life and career of its founder, prima ballerina Lisa Macuja-Elizalde. This site is powered by Ms. Elizalde and Project Art, Inc.
All in Ballet Dictionary
Pointe work is an iconic part of classical ballet technique.
It describes the nuanced positioning of the arms, head and shoulders in relation to the lower body.
Costumes are used to enhance the scene or setting of a production.
Neoclassical Ballet is a style that emerged in the 20th century
The pioneers of Modern Dance wanted to break away from traditional ballet and hence the genre pushes beyond the rules and structured nature of Classical Ballet.
Mime is used in Classical Ballet to communicate the essence of the story without the need to speak.
Ballet ribbons are used to secure ballet shoes or pointe shoes to the foot, tied in a criss cross over the instep.
A pas failli is known as a transitional step as it usually prepares for another jump.
Port de bras is a classical ballet term meaning “carriage of the arms”.
De côté is a directional ballet term used to describe another step to be performed to the side.
Fifth Position is one of the most difficult positions of the feet.
The term “Ballerina” was originally a title given to the principal female dancer of a ballet company.
“En dedans” is a classical ballet term describing an “inward” direction.
A ballet bun is the traditional hairstyle worn by female dancers.
A Dance Belt is an essential piece of a male dancer’s apparel that is worn at all times of dancing
The term “ballon” means to bounce and it is used to describe the quality of a jump in terms of its lightness and ease
To describe “line” in ballet would be to describe an aesthetic of the entire body of the dancer creating a pleasing “image”, not necessarily a straight line.
The phrase “pas de trois” in classical ballet translates to “Dance for three.”
