Ballet Echappe

Jacklyn Dougherty

Echappe [ ay-sha-PAY ]. Escaping movement. Level opening of both feet from a closed to an open position. Therewo kinds of echappes: echappe saute, which is done with a spring from the fifth position and finishes in a demi-plie in the open position, and echappe sur les pointes, or demi-pointes, which is done with a releve and has straight knees when in the open position. In each case echappes are done to the second or fourth position, both feet traveling an equal distance from the original center of gravity.

Echappe, double [ doob lay-sha-PAY ]. Double echappe. A term of the Russian School. This is an echappe on the points with a releve in the open position before closing the feet in the fifth position. It is done to the second position or to the fourth position, either croise or efface.

Echappe battu [ ay-sha-PAY ba-TEW]. Echappe beaten. Demi-plie in the fifth position R foot front; spring into the air and open the legs to the second position. Come to the floor in the second position in demi-plie. Again spring into the air and beat the R leg in front of the L leg. Finish in demi-plie, fifth position R foot back. The actual beat is performed on the calves and both legs beat. Echappe battu may also be finished on one leg, with the other leg sur le cou-de-pied either devant or derriere.

Echappe change [ ay-sha-PAY shahn-ZHAY ]. Echappe changing. This is an echappe to the second position, either saute or releve, in which the position of the feet changes on the closing in the fifth position.

Echappe royale [ ay-sha-PAY rwah-YAL ]. Echappe with royale. Performed the same as echappe battu except that before the legs open into the second position they are beaten together.

Echappe sans changer [ ay-sha-PAY sahn shahn-ZHAY ]. Echappe without change. This is an echappe to the second position, either saute or releve, with no change of feet on the closing in the fifth position.

Echappe saute [ ay-sha-PAY soh-TAY ]. Echappe, jumping or springing. This echappe is done to either the second or fourth position. The direction of the body can be en face or facing any of the directions. Echappe saute is done either grand or petit.

Echappe saute, grand [ grahn tay-sha-PAY soh-TAY ]. Big echappe, jumping. After a deep demi-plie in the fifth position the dancer springs into the air as high as possible, extending the legs in the fifth position. This closed position is maintained until the height of the jump is reached, then the legs are thrown apart into second position in the air and the dancer alights in demi- plie in the second position. On the return jump to fifth position, the dancer springs into the air with the legs extended in the second position until the top of the spring, then the feet are closed in the fifth position in the air and the dancer alights in demi-plie in the fifth position. This echappe may also be finished landing on one foot in a big pose such as attitude, arabesque, etc.

Echappe saute, petit [ puh-TEE tay-sha-PAY soh-TAY]. Little echappe, jumping. Fifth position R foot front. Demi-plie, push off the floor with extended toes and straightened knees and immediately open the legs to the second position in the air, then land in demi-plie in the second position. Again spring into the air in the same manner and return to the fifth position in demi- plie. The step may be repeated with the same foot in front or executed alternately front and back. In the Cecchetti method, the knees are bent and the feet drawn up on the return jump from the second position. Echappe saute may also be done to the fourth position croise or efface. Echappe may also be done finishing on one foot on the return from the second or fourth position with the other foot held sur le cou-de-pied either devant or derriere.

Echappe saute en tournant [ ay-sha-PAY soh-TAY ahn toor-NAHN ]. Echappe, jumping and turning. Petit echappe and grand echappe saute are done with quarter or half-turns. The jump from the fifth position to the second position is done turning, then the jump returning to the fifth position is done in place.

Echappe sur les pointes [ ay-sha-PAY sewr lay pwent]. Echappe on the points or toes. Fifth position R foot front. Demi-plie and, with a little spring, open the feet to the second or fourth position sur les pointes. The feet should glide rapidly to the open position and both feet must move evenly. On reaching the open position both knees must be held taut. With a little spring return to the fifth position in demi-plie. If the echappe is done in the second position the R foot may be closed either front or back. In echappe to the fourth position facing en face, croise or efface, the movement is done from the fifth position to the fourth position without change. Echappes may also be done en croix.

Echappe to second position finishing on on leg. A term of the Russian School. Fifth position R foot front. Demi-plie and echappe sur les pointes to the second position; demi-plie in the second position, then spring on the L pointe, taking the R foot sur le cou-de-pied derriere; demi-plie in the fifth position, R foot back. The step may also be done finishing on one leg with the free foot sur le cou-de-pied devant.