Ballet Terminology Quiz: Test Your Dance Vocabulary
15 quick questions in a ballet vocabulary quiz. Instant results and handy definitions.
Editorial: Review CompletedUpdated Aug 23, 2025
This ballet terminology quiz helps you check and learn key dance terms in minutes. Use it to review before class or a recital, then tackle some ballet trivia questions or find your track with a ballet level quiz; you can also try a broader dance quiz.
Learning Outcomes
- Identify common ballet terms and their definitions
- Demonstrate understanding of classical dance vocabulary
- Differentiate between key ballet movements accurately
- Apply correct terminology in dance contexts
- Evaluate term usage in choreography descriptions
- Master essential ballet language for performance
Cheat Sheet
- Five Fundamental Positions - Ballet begins with mastering the five positions of the feet: first through fifth. These positions are the foundation for all steps, helping you find stability and alignment while building strength. Practice each slowly to train muscle memory and improve your turnout!
- Plié - A plié is a knee bend that creates springiness and power for jumps and turns. This movement builds leg strength and flexibility, and it's essential for injury prevention. Keep your back straight and heels grounded as you sink and rise like a graceful accordion!
- Port de Bras - Port de bras means "carriage of the arms" and gives your dance lines warmth and expression. Learning to move your arms fluidly will connect your upper and lower body for a cohesive performance. Imagine your fingertips telling a story as they trace elegant arcs through space!
- Relevé - Rising onto the balls of your feet or toes, relevé improves balance and builds calf strength. This action helps you achieve lightness and control in every movement, making jumps and extensions look effortless. Engage your core and ankles to stay steady as you lift!
- Pas de Deux - Pas de deux is a dance for two, highlighting partnership, coordination, and trust. You'll learn to balance, lift, and synchronize movements with a partner, creating beautiful duets on stage. It's a chance to show off teamwork and share the magic of performance!
- Grand Battement - In a grand battement, the working leg is lifted from the hip and swung down with control. This high kick movement develops flexibility, strength, and precision in your legs. Aim for a smooth, sweeping line and resist the urge to rush the motion!
- Pirouette - A pirouette is a complete spin on one foot, requiring spot-on balance and spotting technique. You'll practice finding your center, engaging your core, and spotting a fixed point to avoid dizziness. With each turn, feel yourself getting lighter and more in control!
- Arabesque - Arabesque places you on one leg with the other extended behind, forming a long line from fingertips to toes. This position challenges your back, hips, and leg strength, and highlights your sense of line and poise. Hold your shoulders down and your chest open for a majestic silhouette!
- Jeté - A jeté is a leap where one leg brushes into the air before landing on the other. This jump trains explosive power, smooth transitions, and graceful landings. Think of pushing off the floor like a spring and extending through your toes!
- Tutu - The tutu is the iconic ballet skirt made of layered tulle or netting, ranging from romantic mid-calf lengths to stiff classical styles. It not only adds visual flair but also helps emphasize precise leg and footwork. Partner your tutu with confidence and let it float as you spin!
