Ballet Blog #4

Five different types of Leaps in Ballet 

Cabrole: An allegro (lively or brisk) step in ehich the extended legs are bent in the air. The working leg is thrust in the air. The underneath leg follows and taps or hits the first leg, sending it higher into the air. The landing is on one foot, the second leg, the working leg follows. 

• This can be done as Petite at 45 degrees or as Gronde, at a 90 degree angle. 
• This leap can be done in devant, derriere, and A la seconde.
• This leap can also be done in any position; croise, efface, and ecarte.
• The first known use of this was in 1769

Echape Saute: (esacaping or slipping movement) This leap starts in fifth position, and lands in second or fourth position (open positions). The leap is a movment of opening both feet from a closed to an open position. The dancer springs up from fifth position and finishs the leap in a demi plie in second or fourth position.

• Both feet travil an equal amount of distance from the original center of gravity. 

Jete: (Throwing step) A leap from one foot to the other, in which the working leg is brushed into the air and appears to have been tossed or thrown. There are many forms of a Jete and they may be performed in any direction. 

• Jete Battu
• Jete Entrelace 
• Jete Grand 
• Jete Gand in attitude 
• Jete Petit

Pas de Chat: (Pas-simple step) (Chat- cat step) (one foot) The feet are drawn up and the knees are bent so the legs form a dimond.  

• First known uss was in 1914

Tour en l'air: Beginning and ending in fifth position. The dancer rises straight into the airfrom a demi-plie and makes a complete rotation and lands in a demi-plie in fith position with feet reversed. 

• The rotation can be a single, double, or triple.
• This is normaly used by male dancers however some contemporary choreographers use this for femaile dancers.