What does “Pirouette” mean in ballet?
A non-traveling turn on one leg, of one or more rotations, often starting with one or both legs in plié and rising onto demi-pointe or pointe . The non-supporting leg is generally held in retiré devant ('front')—when initiated from fourth, this would be a retiré passé —but could also be held in other positions such as seconde . Pirouettes are most often executed en dehors , turning outwards in the direction of the working leg, but can also be done en dedans , turning inwards in the direction of the supporting leg. (e.g. En dehors turns clockwise (to the right) if the right leg is working and the left leg supporting/standing.) Spotting is employed to help maintain balance. A pirouette may return to its starting position or finish in arabesque or attitude . In other genres of dance, such as jazz or modern, it is common to see pirouettes performed with legs parallel (i.e. sixth position) instead of turned out as in ballet.
See also
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
Petit battement
Petit battement is when a ballet dancer swiftly moves his/her leg in front then behind the…
Petit saut
( ; 'small jump.') A small jump, in which the feet do not change positions in mid-air; als…
Piqué
( ; meaning 'pricked.') A movement in which the raised, pointed foot of the working leg is…
Piqué turn
A tour piqué or piqué turn is a traveling turn executed by the leg stepping out onto an en…
Plié
( ; literally 'bent.') A smooth and continuous bending of the knees outward with the upper…
Pointe technique
The part of classical ballet technique that concerns pointe work (dancing on the tips of t…
Pointe work
Performing steps while on the tips of the toes, with feet fully extended and wearing point…
Pointe, en
Supporting one's body weight on the tips of the toes, usually while wearing structurally r…