- Adage [a-DAHZH] – slow, graceful movements
- Alessandra Ferri - an Italian prima ballerina assoluta
- Alicia - Alonso, a partially blind Cuban prima ballerina assoluta and choreographer. Markova, (1910-2004), hugely influential in British and American ballet and a prima ballerina assoluta.
- Alina Cojocaru – Romanian ballet dancer
- Allegra - Allegra Kent joined the New York City Ballet in 1953 at the age of fifteen, becoming a principal four years later, dancing many roles created for her by George Balanchine.
- Allegro – brisk, lively movements
- Alonzo King – American dancer and choreographer of contemporary ballet
- Alvin Ailey, Jr. – American modern ballet dancer and choreographer
- Angelina (Angelina Ballerina)
- Anna Pavlova – legendary Russian prima ballerina (1881-1931); best-known for her creation of The Dying Swan; she danced with the Imperial Ballet and the Ballets Russes of Sergei Diaghilev and was the first ballerina to tour around the world.
- Anneli Alhanko - a Swedish prima ballerina assoluta
- Arabesque [a-ra-BESK] - perhaps the most well-known step, arabesque refers to the position of the body supported on one leg with the other extended behind.
- Arthur Mitchell – American artistic director, educator, choreographer and dancer
- Aspicia (from The Pharaoh's Daughter)
- Audrey Hepburn – Emmy, Grammy, Tony and Oscar award-winning actress and ballerina
- August: The Bournonville ballet technique is taught primarily in Denmark and was developed by August Bournonville.
- Aurora - from the ballet "Sleeping Beauty"
- Avant [ah-VAHN]: The opposite of arriere, avant means "to the front." There's also Devant [duh-VAHN], which means forward or in front. Either would make a pretty cool name for a boy.
- Balancé [ba-lahn-SAY] – a rocking step. For a boy, consider Balançoire, which is pronounced Bah-lan-SWAHR.
- Ballon [bah-LAHN]: Ballon is the technique of floating in the air while performing jumps and leaps.
- Ballotté [ba-law-TAY] – tossed into the air
- Ben Vereen – Tony Award-winning actor, dancer and singer
- Bill “Bojangles” Robinson – pioneer tap dancer and actor of stage and screen
- Cabriole [ka-bree-AWL] - this step, in which extended legs are beaten in the air, can be executed at 45 degrees (petite) or 90 degrees (grande).
- Carlos Acosta – Cuban ballet dancer
- Catherine - Catherine de Medici introduced ballet to France in the 16th century.
- Chassé [shah-SAY]: This gliding movement is not all that different than a child riding a pretend horse.
- Clara - from the ballet "The Nutcracker"
- Coppélia – This romantic ballet features the love story of Franz and Swanhilda.
- Cyd Charisse – American ballet and film dancer
- Darcey Bussell - one of Britain's most brilliant modern day dancers
- Demi [deh-MEE]: Meaning "half," demi is applied to positions to suggest a smaller version of the movement. Consider Demitri for a boy.
- Devant [duh-VAHN] – in front
- Don Quixote – Kitri and Basilio are the lead characters of this exciting historical ballet.
- Donald O'Connor – American dancer, singer and actor
- Dulcie Howes – South African ballet dancer and founder of Cape Town City Ballet
- Dulcinea (from Don Quijote)
- Echappé [ay-sha-PAY] – escape
- Eleanor Powell – American actress and dancer known for her exuberant solo tap dancing
- Enrico: The Cecchetti Method training system is named after Italian ballet dancer Enrico Cecchetti.
- Épaulement [ay-pawhl-MAHN]: Take Paul or Paula to the next level with this ballet step.
- Erick Hawkins – American dancer and choreographer; pioneer of radical modern dance
- Erik Bruhn (1928–1986) — This Danish ballet dancer began his career at age 9 and became a soloist with the Royal Danish Ballet at age 20.
- Esmerelda (La Esmerelda)- Based on The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, the main character in La Esmerelda takes her name from the Spanish, meaning “emerald” and also “protector”.
- Eugene “Gene” Curran Kelly – award-winning dancer, choreographer, singer, actor and director
- Eva Evdokimova - Was named prima ballerina assoluta by the ballet mistress of the Kirov Ballet, following guest appearances with the company in the 1970s. The title was later sanctioned by the Senate of Berlin.
- Fanny Elssler – Austrian dancer who pioneered new techniques such as pointe work
- Fouetté [fweh-TAY] – whipped
- Frankie Manning – American dancer, instructor and choreographer; founding father of Lindy Hop (another great name!)
- Fred Astaire – legendary American film and stage dancer, choreographer, singer and actor
- Frederick Ashton (1904–1988) — Born in Ecuador, Ashton moved to England in 1919 and became a resident choreographer of The Royal Ballet during the 1930s.
- Galina - for the great Soviet prima ballerina assoluta Galina Ulanova and for Russian ballerina Galina Mezentseva (b. 1952)
- Gamzatti (from La Bayadere)
- George Balanchine – choreographer credited for bridging classical and modern ballet; co-founder of the New York City Ballet
- Gillian Murphy – principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre
- Ginger Rogers – American film and stage dancer, singer and actress; partner of Fred Astaire
- Giselle - from the ballet "Giselle"
- Glissade [glee-SAD] – glide
- Grace: The French ballet school Académie de Danse Classique Princesse Grace is named after Princess Grace of Monaco.
- Gwen Verdon – American dancer and actress
- Hanya - German-born dancer and choreographer Hanya Holm is considered to be one of the founders of modern dance.
- Hermes Pan – Fred Astaire's principal choreographic collaborator
- Irina - for Russian ballerina Irina Kolesnikova (b. 1980) and Ukrainian ballet dancer Irina Dvorovenko
- Isadora Duncan – American dancer considered the mother of modern dance
- Jete [zhuh-TAY] – throwing step
- Joaquín Cortés – Spanish ballet dancer and choreographer
- Josephine - Josephine Baker an American-born African-American dancer who became a French citizen, was an international success via her sensational erotic dancing -- especially her famous 'banana dance.' She later became a staunch civil rights activist.
- Juliet (Romeo and Juliet)
- Kitri
- La Bayadere – Temple dancer Nikiya falls in love with warrior Solor, who is unhappily engaged to Rajah’s daughter.
- La Sylphide – This early ballet tells the story of a young Scotsman, James, who escapes his wedding to dance in the forest with his dream, the beautiful Sylphide.
- Leslie Caron – French-born ballet dancer and actress
- Loie - The French dancer Loie Fuller was an early free dance practitioner, a pioneer in both modern dance and lighting techniques. Born Marie Louise, she came upon this distinctive name in a circuitous way -- her original stage name was Louie, but when she reached Paris she gained the punning nickname Loie from the Medieval French L'oie, which means receptive, understanding.
- Louis: King Louis XIV founded the first ballet school and the first professional performing company
- Lucinda - Lucinda Childs is a leading American postmodern dancer and choreographer who was part of the Judson Dance Theater group, and became known for her unique use of complex patterns and repetitions. Also used in Don Quijote.
- Margot Fonteyn (1919-1991) – Margot is considered the greatest English ballerina and was partnered frequently with Rudolf Nureyev. She danced for more than 40 years, not retiring until age 58.
- Marie - Marie Camargo (1710–1770) was the first ballet dancer to shorten her skirt, which enabled her to showcase her outstanding technique. Marie Taglioni (1804-1884) was introduced to dance by her famous father, Italian choreographer Filippo Taglioni and she was a pioneer of pointe.
- Martha Graham – influential American dancer and choreographer; a foremost pioneer of modern dance
- Mathilde Kschessinska - Appointed prima ballerina assoluta of the Mariinsky Ballet, allegedly due to her connections with the Imperial Russian Court. Petipa is known to have attempted to block her promotion.
- Maya - for Russian ballerina Maya Plisetskaya (b. 1925)
- Medora (Le Corsaire)
- Merce - Because of his remarkable contributions to contemporary dance, Merce Cunningham -- born Mercier -- became a single-name celebrity as a hugely influential and creative force in the dance world for more than fifty years.
- Michael Kidd – American Broadway and film choreographer and dancer
- Mikhail/Misha Baryshnikov (b. 1948) — Russian-born Baryshnikov started dancing in Leningrad but eventually found his way to the American Ballet Theatre and New York City Ballet. Considered to be one of the three greatest ballet dancers of all time.
- Moira - For old movie buffs, Moira Shearer is best remembered as the dazzling young red-haired ballet dancer in the 1948 film The Red Shoes, though she continued to perform as a dancer for several decades longer.
- Nadia Nerina (1927-2008) - Ashton's La fille mal gardée was created for her.
- Natalia - Ospivoa, a Royal Ballet principal dancer. Makarova, a prima ballerina assoluta from the Soviet Union.
- Nikiya (La Bayadere)
- Nikolai: Nikolai Legat developed the Legat Method, a popular ballet training system in Russia.
- Nina - for Georgian ballerina Nina Ananiashvili (b. 1963)
- Odette (Swan Lake)- Besides our beloved swan princess, another notable Odette is French actress/author Odette Joyeux, who studied dance at the Paris Opera Ballet.
- Odile (Swan Lake)
- Ondine (ballet by Frederick Ashton)
- Paquita – After being abducted by gypsies, Paquita uncovers her true nobility and finds true love with Officer Lucien d’Hervilly.
- Penchée [pahn-SHAY] – leaning, inclining
- Philippine/Pina - Pina Bausch was a radical and influential German modern dancer, choreographer, teacher and ballet director.
- Phyllis Spira - a South African prima ballerina assoluta.
- Phyllis Spira-Boyd – South African ballet dancer
- Pierina Legnani - Appointed prima ballerina assoluta of the Mariinsky Ballet at the request of Marius Petipa
- Pierre Beauchamp - the head dance master for the Académie Royale de Dance, developed the five positions of classical ballet.
- Piqué [pee-KAY]: Some refer to this step as pointe.
- Porté [pawr-TAY] – carried
- Rajah (La Bayadere)
- Relevé [rehl-leh-VAY]: Literally translated, relevé means "lifted."
- Rex Howard Harrington – Canadian ballet dancer
- Rita Hayworth – American film dancer and actress
- Robert Louis “Bob” Fosse – Tony Award-winning musical theater choreographer and director
- Rose (Rose Adagio in Sleeping Beauty)
- Rudolf Nureyev (1938-1993) – Rudolf was a Russian dancer, choreographer and director who made his debut in London with the Royal Ballet, performing Giselle with the famous Margot Fonteyn.
- Ruth St. Denis – early modern dance pioneer
- Savion - Savion Glover was a young tap dancing prodigy, taught by several of the older generation masters whose traditions he continues to uphold. He was called by tap legend Gregory Hines "possibly the best tap dancer that ever lived."
- Sissone [see-SAWN] – jump from both feet onto one foot
- Solor (La Bayadere)
- Sulamith Messerer – founder of Japanese ballet
- Svetlana - for Ukranian ballerina Svetlana Zakharova (b. 1979)
- Swan Lake – Odette is the star of this tale of love, betrayal and the triumph of good over evil.
- Sylvia (Sylvia) - Coming from the Latin, Sylvia is the feminine form of Silvius, and can be interpreted as “woodland” or “forest”.
- Sylvie - for French ballerina Sylvie Guillem (b. 1965)
- Tamara Rojo - artistic director of ENB and a huge star of the Royal Ballet
- Tatiana (from the ballet Eugene Onegin)
- Terre
– on the ground
- Titania (A Midsummer Night’s Dream) - The queen of the fairies in the Shakespearean comedy, Titania is a Greek name meaning “land of giants” (based on the Latin Titanius – “of the Titans”).
- Tombé [tahm-BAY]: This term, which describes the act of falling, has a nice masculine sound to it.
- Twyla - Twyla Tharp formed her own dance company in 1968, often incorporating jazz and pop music into her work, frequently collaborating with Baryshnikov.
- Ulyana Lopatkina - one of Russia's greatest present day ballerinas
- Vaslav Nijinsky (1890–1950) — Nijinsky is remembered as one of the most talented male ballet dancers of the early 20th century.
- Violette - Violette Verdy, born Nelly, is a French prima ballerina who performed with ballet companies in France, London, and Milan before joining American Ballet Theatre in 1956.
- William Vernon Blythe (Vernon Castle) and Irene Castle – husband-and-wife team of modern ballroom dancers
- Yury Grigorovich – Russian dancer and choreographer
- Zizi Jeanmaire – ballet dancer; wife of renowned dancer and choreographer Roland Petit
sep 20 2017 ∞
sep 24 2017 +
sep 24 2017 +