Which term means 'to the back'?

Which term means 'to the back'?

• A. En avant
• B. En arrière
• C. Passés
• D. Demi en l'air

Answer: (B)

In ballet directions, French terms tell you where the movement goes relative to your body. en arrière means toward the back, so it’s the instruction you’d follow to move backward or step to the rear. This is exactly what the prompt is asking for. en avant would be the opposite, meaning toward the front. Passés describes a position where the working foot passes the knee, not a direction. Demi en l’air refers to a movement or position in the air, not where you’re moving. So en arrière is the term that means “to the back.”

In ballet directions, French terms tell you where the movement goes relative to your body. en arrière means toward the back, so it’s the instruction you’d follow to move backward or step to the rear. This is exactly what the prompt is asking for. en avant would be the opposite, meaning toward the front. Passés describes a position where the working foot passes the knee, not a direction. Demi en l’air refers to a movement or position in the air, not where you’re moving. So en arrière is the term that means “to the back.”