Table 2 Order and description of discrete ballet movement tasks and example of choreographed sequences
From: Development of a Human Activity Recognition System for Ballet Tasks
Ballet movement | Description |
|---|---|
Leg lifting tasks | |
Grands battements (devant, a la seconde, derriere) | In a controlled, large amplitude tossing or throwing action, the dancer flexes at the hip to bring the lower limb with the knee held in extension to the front of the body 3 times in succession closing into fifth position each time. The dancer then repeats this movement to the side of the body and then behind the body (hip and lumbar spine extension). This is repeated on the other leg. |
Develloppe (devant, a la seconde, derriere) | In a slow, controlled unfolding movement, the dancer lifts the leg to the front of the body. This is repeated to the side and the back. This is repeated on the other leg. This is repeated 3 times. |
Battement Lente (devant, a la seconde, derriere) | In a slow, controlled movement, the dancer lifts the leg to the front of the body, maintaining knee extension. This is repeated to the side and the back. This is repeated on the other leg. This is repeated 3 times. |
Jumping tasks | |
Sauté in first position | The dancer commences in first position of the feet (lower limbs externally rotated and heels placed together) and performs 8 vertical jumps landing bilaterally. |
Changement in fifth position | The dancer commences in fifth position of the feet (lower limbs externally rotated and feet crossed) and performs 8 vertical jumps changing the front foot upon landing. |
Entrechat Quatre | The dancer commences in fifth position of the feet (lower limbs externally rotated and feet crossed) and performs 4 vertical jumps beating the legs in air before landing bilaterally with the same foot in front. This was performed with the right leg and left leg starting in front. |
Assemblé | The dancer commences in fifth position and swishes one leg out to the side as they take off, they gather the legs in the air together and land before immediately taking off for the next jump. This is repeated 6 times. |
Jeté ordinaire | The dancer commences in fifth position and swishes one leg out to the side as they take off, they then land on the limb that they swished to the side. This is repeated 8 times. |
Temps levé | A single leg vertical jump and land performed 5 times in succession |
Grand Jeté en avant | A big leap. To prepare for the movement, the dancer performed a travelling sequence to generate momentum, as they would normally do within a dance class. This was repeated 2 times on each leg. |
Grand Jeté en tournant | A big leap turning the body in the air. This was repeated 3 times on each leg |
Choreographed sequence example | |
Slow leg lift sequence | Develloppe devant with right leg, lower the leg to pass through first position tolift into battement lente derriere. Lower the leg into fifth position. Develloppe the left leg a la seconde. Carry the leg, still lifted to derriere.Hold the leg lift derriere and pivot the body slowly 360°. Once returned to original positon, close in 5th position. Travelling step into a pirouette. |
Jump sequence | Travelling step to the right, jeté ordinare to the right, temps levee Travelling step to the left, jeté ordinare to the left, temps levee Travelling step to the right, jeté ordinare to the right, temps levee Travelling step to the left, assemble Remaining on the floor rise up on toes from bent knee position. Three changementschanging direction on each on to turn 360° |