# Ballet Index — user reviews > 31 indexed App Store user reviews of Ballet Index by Cannonade.Net, rated 2.30/5 from 6 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ballet-index/id326682506/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ballet-index/id326682506.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 1 · 4★ 1 · 3★ 0 · 2★ 1 · 1★ 3 ## Newest reviews (10 of 31) ### 2/5 — Not so useful. *2014-10-11, version 2.8* It's all right. The thing that I dislike is that it has photos for unimportant things like "ballerina" and very few for things that would be useful, like all of the movements. I would like to see photos of thi gs like all the variations of an arabesque, for instance, or of all the positions. That's what I really wanted. A description is just not as useful. ### 2/5 — Fine dictionary but the store shows photos but ... *2012-04-05, version 2.3* Unless I'm missing something there are none! I am pretty "ticked off"! I bought this because at 55, even though I still teach in pointe shoes, I can't demonstrate everything the way I'd like to anymore! Bring on the photos & I'll rate this higher.... ### 2/5 — Misleading *2011-12-15, version 2.1* There are like two photos in the whole app not what it shows in the preview.. ### 4/5 — Needs some tweaking *2011-03-02, version 1.97* I would like to see some sort of bookmarking system for things I need to work on and remember. The descriptions are hard to visualize for a newer student. There are simple 2 step illustrations out there that could be used within this interface. Overall, it helps me see the terms I am hearing during ballet class. ### 2/5 — Needs video/photos *2010-10-29, version 0* Definitions are good but no dance app should be without visual aids that start with the beginning of a movement and flow through to the end of the movement. This app says it has images for some terms but there is no way of knowing which ones. I would be more patient with the development of this app if I could easily go to the terms with images since I would mostly gravitate toward those. Save your money for this app or another app until they get a professional dancer on video for every term. I would spend good money on the app that does that. ### 3/5 — Pictures/Diagrams *2010-09-25, version 0* The use of diagrams and/or pictures would help the reading in what they are trying to picture. ### 4/5 — Good but needs pics *2010-08-05, version 0* This is a great app for remembering steps but it is hard to just read it and get it from there it would be a lot easier to hav pics .... Especially 4 the body positions ### 4/5 — Needs pics *2010-02-06, version 0* Great app! Worth the .99 cents, but needs more pics! It's easier to remember a step when u can c it being done. ### 2/5 — Needs pictures *2009-09-17, version 0* Good definitions, but needs photos or something to show positions. Somewhat useful anyway for beginners. Glad someone atleast made something for dancers. I could use other forms of dance (like tap) having a dictionary as well. ### 4/5 — Great, simple ballet dictionary. *2009-09-13, version 0* Love this easy app. Great for finding quick and useful terms. Wish I could bookmark certain terms and have a picture or illustration to clarify. A pronounciation would be nice too... However, it's very useful and I love the flashcard concept. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — I paid and no update for IOS 11 *2018-01-26, version 2.8* When it work was good but since IOS11 the developer didn’t update so is not working any longer and I paid money for it ### 1/5 — No pictures *2013-10-18, version 2.8* Paid for the app and there are no pictures. Screen shots are deceiving.Useless. Will be asking for a refund. ### 1/5 — Same thing as lite version. *2013-07-15* It's the same as lite version, useless to pay, if there are no pictures as promissed in the description. Disappointed. ### 1/5 — Ballet Index *2013-01-23, version 2.6* Sorry to say - not great! Descriptions not clear and still waiting former of those pictures that were promised! Come on - sort it out - I night this App to learn positions, not just to have a useless App I'm my phone! ### 1/5 — Disappointing *2013-01-21, version 2.6* While the definitions are thorough, the lack of pictures a real upset. There might be five definitions in the whole app that include pics. Your better off googling the terms for free if you want an example. How hard is it to snap pics of dancers and uploading them to the app? ### 1/5 — Disappointed! *2012-10-18, version 2.6* First downloaded the lite version then found this which was indicated more pics then the lite FALSE! The only difference between the lite and the index are with the PAID version is no ads THATS IT fix this if we paid for something we expect it! ### 1/5 — Such a ripoff! *2012-10-07, version 2.6* No images after paying for the full version. Don't waste your money!!! ### 1/5 — rip-off! *2012-07-29, version 2.6* I first downloaded the Lite version and after finding out that there were a lot of entries with no images, I decided to buy the (supposedly) full version. What a disappointment! more than 90% of entries will just present a dictionary-style definition, with no supporting images! ### 1/5 — Incomplete and inaccurate. *2012-01-18, version 2.1* I really wanted to try this and write a good review. Because the less-than-literate world of ballet out there really needs one. But, there are some glaring issues with this app that make it frustrating at best and angering at worst. So, first, why it deserves a "star": It seems to be well coded and is fairly functional in finding and accessing terms. Good. Great template to make a great glossary or dictionary. But that is where the fat lady finishes her aria and the curtain closes. I wrote my thesis on Balletic Linguistics and Semiology in reference to the verbal transmission of technique. I confess that I tend to be a bit erudite in my criticism to this study. But, this glossary only confirms the conclusion of that thesis: There is far too little academic understanding in the world of ballet - even among academics, in regards to definition, usage and synomics between cultural schools of ballet linguistics, for them to be teaching, much less, presenting such a glossary. There are far too many omissions and little mistakes that should have been edited before the release of this app for me to count. In brief, here is the main omission of this app: it is primarily inclusive of a foundation of the usage of French from the perspective of most -English schools of ballet-, instead of the ballet world at large. Cecchetti is the next best represented, but that is because, more or less, English ballet is based directly upon Cecchetti. French school is the next, but, hey, the language of ballet is predominantly French. After that, forget it: Bournonville, Vaganova, even Balanchine are barely represented (Balanchine's usage is based upon the Cecchetti influenced old Russian Imperial school). Take for example the definition of "arabesque". "in the arab fashion"? Wha....? The term Arabesque originates from arab moorish decent through Spain and is a term of design meaning "spiral." The arabesque ligne is a spiral. Then, no description of -any- of the schools forms of arabesques: not the five arabesques of Cecchetti, four of Vaganova, nor even the English versions!? To parse down a glossary to the effect of not defining the term at minimum as, say, "one leg extended derrière, qualified as arabesque by one arm extended en avant, palm down with the back erect as possible" or something along that line, betrays the purpose of such an app book. Secondly: very few discussions of synonmics. No discussion that in most schools, a so-called "split jete'" (colloquial), referenced as "grande saut de chat" in most schools, is strictly "grande PAS de chat" in the Vaganova school! If this is not inclusive, a document is inaccurate. Not to mention that they use the term "raccourci" as part of the descriptor, and then don't go on to have a definition for it, nor use the synonyms that match it, such as retire', passe' retire' or, in the Vaganova school, one of several versions of tir bouchon...and that raccourci is rarely used in its kinetic referencing, (It is more or less, a dead usage in contemporary balletic linguistic.) The definition of "raccourci" is buried within the definition of "retire'"! Lastly, the description of this step is dated; since the early 1960s, almost every school follows the larger definition of the Vaganova grande pas de chat! This may sound nit-picking, but, I can assure you, it is not. This is extremely important to the study of ballet technique and artistry! Lastly, the inaccuracies. Here is a glaring example of repeated inaccuracy under the definition of "port de bras": "The basic port de bras exercise moves from fifth en barre- to first arm position, to second arm position, then back down to fifth en -barre-. A full port de bras moves from fifth en -barre- to -fifth overhead- and back down but a variation of sequence is common." FYI: the correct term is "fifth (cinquième) en bas" meaning, low fifth position of the arms. "Fifth overhead" is "cinquième en haut" ... Not to mention that fifth en bas in the French school is "bas au repos" and in the Vaganova, "preparatory." and "fifth en haut" is "third position of the arms", grrrrrrr! I'd have to write more content than is fiven in this glossary to cover a half of the problems with this book app, so, I'll leave it at that. Here's the rub: if a person doesn't know a subject in its entirety, or at least have an editor point out errors and omissions, don't write a book for everyone, when it is only meant to (misinform) a proprietary audience at best, or to make a buck, at worst....and at one buck for a purchase, you'd do a lot better to simply buy a used copy of Gail Grant's antique "Technical Manual and Dictionary of Classical Ballet." It's much more accurate, though not quite up to date. ### 2/5 — Not as it seems *2015-07-03, version 2.8* Well I had the free version and saw that this version had the pictures to demonstrate the description of the moves. So I bought it for that reason. Click on the move, and it's exactly the same as the free version. Where are the illustrations?!?! Get the free version, it's cheaper! If the illustrations had been there it would have had 5 stars. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Great ballet ap *2013-04-15, version 2.7* Has been really helpful for me, as a new dance mum. ### 5/5 — Great!! *2011-04-21, version 1.99* It needs pictures, but it's a great dictionary. ### 5/5 — Awesome *2011-01-02, version 1.95* This is an awesome app to learn ballet definitions I totally recommend for u to buy it  ### 5/5 — This app really helped me *2010-04-10, version 0* The ballet index is an useful app that helped me learn my vocabulary for my ballet exam. When we get taught words we are told them, it is useful to see them written down. LOVE IT!!! ### 5/5 — Good quick reference *2009-10-28* This is a pretty good app to have for a beginner who may not have Grant's Technical Manual and Dictionary of Classical Ballet handy and wishes to look up common terms. The developers have been providing regular updates so far and the list of terms covered is expanding too. A decent app and a good buy, IMHO. ### 4/5 — Please Update! *2018-05-11, version 2.8* Please update this app! I really like using it for my younger dancers. ### 4/5 — Brilliant *2014-04-27, version 2.8* I have been studying ballet for almost 2 years now. This app has been the best app to help me get through the language and the terminology my teacher and friends use. This has been like my bible for the last few years. It's easy to read and to understand and especially because I'm a guy it's extremely straight to the point. Such a good app :). ### 4/5 — Good *2012-06-06* Overall a very useful app. (: but need more features coz there's not a big difference than the lite version. ### 4/5 — Ballet *2012-01-11, version 2.1* Very clear descriptions for all ballet levels ### 4/5 — Love it *2011-10-18, version 2.0* I love it. It would be cool if it had a book maker and if you could write corrections your teacher give you on it. It would make it totally more awesome. --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-21.*