Ailes de pigeon (el duh pee-ZHAWN). Pigeon's wings. The dancer performs a cabriole devant, then the legs change and beat again, then change once more before the dancer lands on the leg he or she jumped from, leaving the other leg extended in the air. Also known as "pistolet".
Air, en l' (ahn lehr). In the air. Indicates: (1) that a movement is to be made in the air; for example rond de jambe en l'air; (2) that the working leg, after being opened to the second or fourth position a terre, is to be raised to a horizontal position with the toe on the level of the hip.
Alignment Directions or body alignment.
Allegro (a-lay-GROH; Italian: ah-LAY-groh). Brisk, lively. A temp applied to all bright and brisk movements. All steps of elevation such as the entrachat, cabriole, assemble, jete and so on, come under this classification. The majority of dances, both solo and group, are built on allegro. The most important qualities to aim at in allegro are lightness, smoothness and ballon.
Allonge, allongee (a-lawn-ZHAY). Extended, outstretched. As, for example, in arabesque allongee.