A basic knowledge of ballet technique is essential as no conversation is complete without a sprinkling of technical terms. This is not as daunting as it sounds since you do not actually have to know too much about the steps. (For instance, you can easily learn to recognise the 'Fred step' which is the trademark of Sir Fred's ballets, rather like Alfred Hitchcock's cameo appearances in his own films.) It suffices that certain dancers are particularly remembered for certain things (Darcey's arabesque, Johan's rond de jambe, etc.) and that the number of basic steps is limited anyway.

Adage – The slow bit which starts a pas de deux and is followed by two solos and a coda. Also exercises done in slow tempo.
Allegro – The part of a ballet class made up of fast steps, beats, jumps or turns, and not the only make of car a coryphée can afford.
Arabesque – A pose on one leg with the other leg raised back, the body and arms making a complementary line.
Attitude – Often struck by dancers. Based on the statue of Mercury by Bologna, the dancer stands on one leg with the other raised behind, with the knee bent and the corresponding arm raised.
Ballet blanc – White ballets like Les Sylphides or the second act of Giselle.
Ballon – Having the attributes of a balloon, in bounce (but not in shape).
Barre – What dancers lean on for support on and off stage.
Battement – Beating movements of the legs performed at the barre.
Batterie – Steps in which the feet beat together or cross when in the air and not the place in which the Golden Cockerel was raised.
Bourrée, pas de – The linking steps performed by the Queen of the Wilis in Giselle which make her appear to glide across the stage.
Cabriole – A jumping step in which the dancer raises one leg, bringing the other sharply up to beat with it. Dancers who excel at them can be said to have cabriole legs.
Chat, pas de – Light jumping step, sideways, like a cat.
Coupé jeté – Turning jumps from one foot to the other encircling the stage and nothing to do with fast cars.
Entrechat – The step everyone knows because of its funny name. The dancer jumps in the air and crosses the feet. Be aware that entrechats are numbered, not according to the number of times the feet cross, but the number of changes of position of the feet from ground to ground. An entrechat dix has been performed (the feet crossing five times) but it all happens so fast that the dancer looks like a mad gnat in the air. You are not expected to keep count.

For Fouetté to Tour en l'air you will need your own copy of The Bluffer's Guide to Ballet where you will also find a Glossary of Characters and a guide on How to Translate a Ballet Review, see the Table of Contents for more information.