failli
[fah-YEE]
Giving away. A fleeting movement done on one count. A step where the dancer seems to dégagé each leg to the front immediately after the other with a small jump. A failli is usually done as a preperation step for jumps and is considered an in-between step.
fermé, fermée
[fehr-MAY]
Closed. Indicates that both feet are in a closed position or that the feet at the end of a step are brought to a closed position.
fondu, fondue
[fawn-DEW]
Sinking down. A term used to describe a lowering of the body made by bending the knee of the supporting leg. Saint-Léon wrote, “Fondu is on one leg what a plié is on two.” In some instances the term fondu is also used to describe the ending of a step when the working leg is placed on the ground with a soft and gradual movement. An example of this is jeté fondu.
fouetté
[fweh-TAY]
Whipped. A term applied to a whipping movement. The movement may be a short whipped movement of the raised foot as it passes rapidly in front of or behind the supporting foot or the sharp whipping around of the body from one direction to another. There is a great variety of fouettés: petit fouetté, which may be devant, à la seconde or derrire and executed à terre, sur la demi-pointe or sauté; and grand fouetté, which may be sauté, relevé and en tournant.
fouetté en tournant (Russian School)
[grahn fweh-TAY ahn toor-NAHN]
Large fouetté, turning. This fouetté may be done on demi-pointe, on point or with a jump. It is usually done en dedans and may be finished in attitude croisée, attitude effacée or any of the arabesques.
FLIC-FLAC
[FLEEK-FLAK]
A crack, as of a whip. A term of the Russain School. A flicking or lashing movement done in exercises at the barre and in the centre of the room. It is compromised of whipping movements from second position at 45 degrees through the fifth position front and quickly bringing that leg in towards the standing leg, and to the back for en dehors, while “flicking” the floor into a coupe. A flic-flac can be done both en dedans and en dehors and is usually done with an en tournant, or turn.