Pied Ballet
![Jacklyn Dougherty Pied a demi [ pyay a duh-MEE]. Foot at the half. Another name for sur la demi-pointe. See Demi-pointes, sur les. Pied a pointe [ pyay a pwent]. Foot on the point. Another name for sur la pointe. See Pointes, sur les. Pied a quart [ pyay a kar]. Foot on the quarter-point. SeePositions of the foot on the floor. Pied a terre [ pyay a tehr ]. Foot on the ground. A term of the Cecchetti method for a position of the foot in which the entire base of the foot rests on the ground. See Plat, a. Pied a trois quarts [ pyay a trwah kar]. Foot on the three-quarter point. See Positions of the foot on the floor. Pied dans la main [pyay dahn lah men]. Foot in the hand. A term of the French School. This is a class exercise done at the barre in which the dancer grasps the sole of the foot or heel from the inner side; the leg is then straightened and carried to the second position in the air, the foot still held with the hand. See Detire. Pieds, cinq positions des [sen paw-zee-SYAWN day pyay]. Five positions of the feet. There are five basic positions of the feet in classical ballet, and every step or movement is begun and ended in one or another of these positions, which were established by Pierre Beauchamp, maitre de ballet of the Academie Royale de Musique et de Danse from 1671 to 1687. First position (Premiere position) : In this position the feet form one line, heels touching one another. Second position (Seconde position): The feet are on the same line but with a distance of about one foot between the heels. Third position (Troisieme position): In the third position one foot is in front of the other, heels touching the middle of the other foot. Fourth position (Quatrieme position): In the fourth position the placement of the feet is similar to that in the third position, the feet being parallel and separated by the length of one foot. This is the classical fourth position but it may also be done with the feet in the first position, only separated by the space of one foot. The former is known as quatrieme position croisee (crossed fourth position), while the latter is called quatrieme position ouverte (open fourth position). Today quatrieme position croisee is done with the feet placed as in the fifth position, parallel and separated by the length of one foot, instead of the third position. Fifth position (Cinquieme position): In the fifth position, Cecchetti method, the feet are crossed so that the first joint of the big toe shows beyond either heel. In the French and Russian Schools the feet are completely crossed so that the heel of the front foot touches the toe of the back foot and vice versa. Pieds, positions des, a terre [paw-zee-SYAWN day pyay a tehr ]. When the entire base of both feet touches the ground the feet are said to be in a position a terre. All the positions described in the entry “Pieds, cinq positions des” are positions a terre. Pieds, positions des, en Pair [paw-zee-SYAWN day pyay ahn lehr]. If either foot is placed in the second or fourth position pointe tendue and raised to the side in the second position or forward or backward in the fourth position so that the leg is at right angles to the hip of the supporting leg, the foot is said to be in the second or fourth position en Pair. Also termed a la hauteur, as in quatrieme position a la hauteur. Pieds, positions des, en Pair (demi-position) [paw-zee-SYAWN day pyay ahn lehr ( duh-MEE-paw-zee-SYAWN )]. When a foot is raised in the second or fourth position to a position halfway between the position a terre and the same position en Pair, it is said to be raised in a position en Pair (demi-position). Also termed demi-hauteur, as in seconde position demi- hauteur. Pieds, positions des, pointe tendue [paw-zee-SYAWN day pyay pwent tahn-DEW]. If, in the second or fourth positions, the heel of either foot is raised so that the foot rests on the tip of the toes, the foot is said to be in the second or fourth position pointe tendue. Also termed “pique a terre.](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/761138_fd1d48c5593e4e9786cfa3e82fd51cd9~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_49,h_87,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/761138_fd1d48c5593e4e9786cfa3e82fd51cd9~mv2.png)
Pied a demi [ pyay a duh-MEE]. Foot at the half. Another name for sur la demi-pointe. See Demi-pointes, sur les.
Pied a pointe [ pyay a pwent]. Foot on the point. Another name for sur la pointe. See Pointes, sur les.
Pied a quart [ pyay a kar]. Foot on the quarter-point. SeePositions of the foot on the floor.
Pied a terre [ pyay a tehr ]. Foot on the ground. A term of the Cecchetti method for a position of the foot in which the entire base of the foot rests on the ground. See Plat, a.
Pied a trois quarts [ pyay a trwah kar]. Foot on the three-quarter point. See Positions of the foot on the floor.
Pied dans la main [pyay dahn lah men]. Foot in the hand. A term of the French School. This is a class exercise done at the barre in which the dancer grasps the sole of the foot or heel from the inner side; the leg is then straightened and carried to the second position in the air, the foot still held with the hand. See Detire.
Pieds, cinq positions des [sen paw-zee-SYAWN day pyay]. Five positions of the feet. There are five basic positions of the feet in classical ballet, and every step or movement is begun and ended in one or another of these positions, which were established by Pierre
Beauchamp, maitre de ballet of the Academie Royale de Musique et de Danse from 1671 to 1687.
First position (Premiere position) : In this position the feet form one line, heels touching one another.
Second position (Seconde position): The feet are on the same line but with a distance of about one foot between the heels.
Third position (Troisieme position): In the third position one foot is in front of the other, heels touching the middle of the other foot.
Fourth position (Quatrieme position): In the fourth position the placement of the feet is similar to that in the third position, the feet being parallel and separated by the length of one foot. This is the classical fourth position but it may also be done with the feet in the first position, only separated by the space of one foot. The former is known as quatrieme position croisee (crossed fourth position), while the latter is called quatrieme position ouverte (open fourth position). Today quatrieme position croisee is done with the feet placed as in the fifth position, parallel and separated by the length of one foot, instead of the third position.
Fifth position (Cinquieme position): In the fifth position, Cecchetti method, the feet are crossed so that the first joint of the big toe shows beyond either heel. In the French and Russian Schools the feet are completely crossed so that the heel of the front foot touches the toe of the back foot and vice versa.
Pieds, positions des, a terre [paw-zee-SYAWN day pyay a tehr ]. When the entire base of both feet touches the ground the feet are said to be in a position a terre. All the positions described in the entry “Pieds, cinq positions des” are positions a terre.
Pieds, positions des, en Pair [paw-zee-SYAWN day pyay ahn lehr]. If either foot is placed in the second or fourth position pointe tendue and raised to the side in the second position or forward or backward in the fourth position so that the leg is at right angles to the hip of the supporting leg, the foot is said to be in the second or fourth position en Pair. Also termed a la hauteur, as in quatrieme position a la hauteur.
Pieds, positions des, en Pair (demi-position) [paw-zee-SYAWN day pyay ahn lehr ( duh-MEE-paw-zee-SYAWN )]. When a foot is raised in the second or fourth position to a position halfway between the position a terre and the same position en Pair, it is said to be raised in a position en Pair (demi-position). Also termed demi-hauteur, as in seconde position demi- hauteur.
Pieds, positions des, pointe tendue [paw-zee-SYAWN day pyay pwent tahn-DEW]. If, in the second or fourth positions, the heel of either foot is raised so that the foot rests on the tip of the toes, the foot is said to be in the second or fourth position pointe tendue. Also termed “pique a terre.
