What does “Échappé” mean in ballet?
( ; literally 'escaped.') A movement done from a closed (first or fifth) position to an open (second or fourth) position. There are two kinds of échappés : échappé sauté and échappé sur les pointes or demi-pointes . In an échappé sauté , a dancer takes a deep plié followed by a jump in which the legs "escape" into either second (usually when initiating from first position ) or fourth position (usually when initiating from fifth position) landing in demi-plié . In échappé sur le pointes/demi-pointes a dancer begins with a deep plié , springs onto les pointes or demi-pointes , ending in either second position (when starting from first position) or fourth (when starting from fifth) with knees straight. The dancer may or may not return to the initial position, depending on the choreography.
New to ballet? Read our ballet guide — history, the five positions, class structure and how adults can start.
Definition adapted from Glossary of ballet on Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Nearby terms
À la quatrième
One of the directions of body, facing the audience ( en face ), arms in second position, w…
À la seconde
(Literally "to second") If a step is done "à la seconde", it is done to the side. 'Second …
À terre
Touching the floor; on the floor.…
Écarté
( ; literally 'spread,' as in 'separated.') One of the basic positions of the body facing …
Élevé
( ; 'raised, lifted.') Rising to pointe or demi-pointe from straight legs and flat feet. T…
Épaulement
( ; 'shouldering.') Rotation of the shoulders and head relative to the hips in a pose or a…
Épaulé
( ; 'shouldered.') One of the positions of the body or épaulement where the body is at an …
Étoile
The leading ballet dancer in a company.…