Chaîné turns – fast turns that move in one direction. To do these, you need a functional vestibular system.

Leonardo da Vinci – the brilliant Italian scientist, mathematician, inventor, and painter who lived from 1452 to 1519. I know this is not exactly related to ballet, but everyone should know about him.

Mona Lisa – Leonardo's most famous painting. Again, not exactly ballet–related, but see above.

Pirouette – a turn done on one leg. Also requires a vestibular system.

Plié – knee–bend. Requires the use of many of your leg muscles, including the adductor magnus and the vastus lateralis.

Podiatrist – foot doctor. I am not planning to be one of these when I grow up. Feet are very interesting, but I don't want to stare at (or smell them) all day long.

Pointe, dancing on – dancing on the tips of your toes, which were not designed to be danced on like that. May have been invented to keep podiatrists in business.

Pointe shoes or toeshoes – shoes with boxy toes you wear when dancing on pointe. If your teacher keeps some in a box in her desk, do NOT borrow them. Especially if your cousin's shoe–chewing dog is visiting.

Swan Lake – famous ballet about a princess who got turned into a swan. This is illogical not to mention physiologically impossible.

Vestibular system – part of the inner ear that helps you keep your balance. Extremely important in ballet. Before Al learned to turn correctly last summer, I wondered if hers was missing. (Very funny Brenda — Al)