Ballet Jete

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Jete, pas [ pah zhuh-TAY ]. Throwing step. A jump from one foot to the other in which the working leg is brushed into the air and appears to have been thrown. There is a wide variety of pas jetes (usually called merely jetes) and they may be performed in all directions.

Jete, petit [ puh-TEE zhuh-TAY ]. Small jete. From a demi-plie in the fifth position the working foot glides along the floor until it reaches a position a la demi-hauteur. The supporting foot springs from the floor and the landing is made in fondu on the working leg with the other foot extended in the air or sur le cou-de-pied. Petit jete is done dessus, dessous, en avant, en arriere and en tournant.

Jete bateau [ zhugh-TAY ba-TOH ]. Boat-like jete. This is a term of the French School. The step consists of a ballotte executed en avant and en arriere. See Ballotte.

Jete-battement [zhuh-TAY-bat-MAHN]. This is a petit battement executed during a jete. It is an exercise of the centre practice and is excellent for foot and instep work and the gaining of brilliancy in batterie. The movement is terre a terre and is done dessus or dessous.

Jete-battement dessous [ zhuh-TAY-bat-MAHN duh-SOO ]. Jete- battement under. This is the reverse of jete-battement dessus (see below), consisting of a jete dessous and a double battement frappe, passing the foot sur le cou-de-pied devant, then derriere, and following with a degage to the second position.

Jete-battement dessus [ zhuh-TAY-bat-MAHN duh-SEW]. Jete- battement over. Fifth position R foot back. Demi-plie and slide the R foot to a short second position, pointe tendue; spring on the R foot, terre a terre, coming to the ground sur la demi-pointe on the same spot the R foot held at the beginning of the step. Immediately lower the R heel to the ground with a fondu and execute a double battement frappe with the L foot bringing the L foot sur le cou-de-pied derriere, then sur le cou-de-pied devant, and follow immediately with a battement frappe to the second position. To repeat to the other side, spring on the L foot in the same manner and execute a double battement frappe with the R foot. Epaulement should be used with this exercise. Either the same shoulder can be brought forward or the shoulder opposite to the foot executing the battement sur le cou-de-pied. This exercise is usually performed 16 times traveling straight forward (en avant) and is then followed by a series of 16 jetes-battements dessous.

Jete battu [ zhuh-TAY ba-TEW]. Jete beaten. Both jete dessus and jete dessous may be beaten.

Jete battu dessous [ zhuh-TAY ba-TEW duh-SOO ]. Jete beaten (and closed) under. Fifth position R foot front. Demi-plie and brush the R foot to the second position at 45 degrees; spring off the L foot, pointing the toes well, and with both knees straight beat the calves together, R leg front. Open legs slightly and land in demi-plie on the R foot with the L foot sur le cou-de-pied devant.

Jete battu dessus [ zhuh-TAY ba-TEW duh-SEW ]. Jete beaten (and closed) over. Fifth position R foot back. Demi-plie and brush the R foot to the second position at 45 degrees; spring off the L foot, pointing the toes well, and with both knees straight beat the calves of the legs together, R leg in back. Open legs slightly and land in demi-plie on the R foot with the L foot sur le cou-de-pied derriere.

Jete derriere [zhuh-TAY deh-RYEHR ]. Jete in back. This is a term of the Cecchetti method. The adverb “derriere” implies that the working foot is closed in the back. See Jete dessous.

Jete dessous [ zhuh-TAY duh-SOO ]. Jete under. Fifth position R foot front. Demi-plie and brush the R foot to the second position (battement frappe); spring off the L foot, pointing the toes well, and land on the R foot in demi-plie with the L foot sur le cou-de-pied devant. After the spring the R foot should return to the ground a little in back of the position vacated by the L foot. The step does not travel from side to side. When done in a series the demi-plie on the supporting leg will be omitted after the first jete, since the leg will already be bent.

Jete dessus [ zhuh-TAY duh-SEW ]. Jete over. Fifth position R foot back. Demi-plie and brush the R foot to the second position at 45 degrees; spring off the L foot, pointing the toes well, and land on the R foot in demi-plie with the L foot sur le cou-de-pied derriere. After the spring the R foot should return to the ground a little in front of the position vacated by the L foot. The step does not travel from side to side. When done in a series the demi-plie on the supporting leg will be omitted after the first jete since the leg will already be bent.

Jete dessus en tournant, grand [ grahn zhuh-TAY duh-SEW ahn toor- NAHN]. Large jete over and turning. A term of the French School. Same as jete entrelace.

Jete dessus en tournant battu, grand [ grahn zhuh-TAY duh-SEW ahn toor-NAHN ba-TEW]. Large jete over, turning and beaten. This is a grand jete dessus en tournant performed with a beat. The leg which is thrust forward in grand battement beats behind or on top of the other leg after the body has turned one half-turn in the air; the legs then pass each other in the air and the dancer lands again on the leg that made the grand battement. See Jete dessus en tournant, grand.

Jete devant [ zhuh-TAY duh-VAHN ]. Jete in front. This is a term of the Cecchetti method. The adverb “devant” implies that the working foot is closed in the front. See Jete dessus.

Jete en arriere, grand [ grahn zhuh-TAY ah na-RYEHR]. Large jete moving backward. This jete is seldom used, as no impetus can be gained from the preparatory pas couru. After the pas couru, step back on the L foot in the direction efface en arriere with a good plie and push off from this foot, at the same time thrusting the R leg back in a grand battement at 90 degrees. The landing is made on the R leg in demiplie with the L leg extended in croise devant en Fair.

Jete en arriere, petit [puh-TEE zhuh-TAY ah na-RYEHR ]. Little jete traveling backward. Fifth position, R foot back. Demi-plie and glide the R foot along the floor and into the air at 45 degrees; spring off the supporting foot and land in fondu on the R foot with the L foot sur le cou-de-pied devant or extended to the fourth position devant at 45 degrees. This jete may also be taken croise en arriere or efface en arriere.

Jete en avant, grand [ grahn zhuh-TAY ah na-VAHN]. Large jete forward. A big leap forward preceded by a preliminary movement such as a pas couru or a glissade, which gives the necessary push-off. The jump is done on the foot which is thrown forward as in grand battement at 90 degrees, the height of the jump depending on the strength of the thrust and the length of the jump depending on the strong push-off of the other leg which is thrust up and back. The dancer tries to remain in the air in a definitely expressed attitude or arabesque and descends to the ground in the same pose. It is important to start the jump with a springy plie and finish it with a soft and controlled plie.

Jete en avant, petit [ puh-TEE zhuh-TAY ah na-VAHN]. Little jete traveling forward. Fifth position R foot front. Demi-plie and glide the R foot along the floor and into the air at 45 degrees; spring off the supporting foot and land in fondu on the R foot with the L foot sur le cou-de-pied derriere or extended to the fourth position derriere at 45 degrees. This jete may also be taken croise en avant or efface en avant.

Jete en descendant, petit [ puh-TEE zhuh-TAY ahn day-sahn-DAHN], Little jete coming down (moving downstage). A term of the French School. Same as jete dessus.

Jete en remontant, petit [ puh-TEE zhuh-TAY ahn ruh-mawn-TAHN]. Little jete going up (moving upstage). A term of the French School. Same as jete dessous.

Jete en tournant, grand [ grahn zhuh-TAY ahn toor-NAHN] . Large jete, turning. A term of the French and Russian Schools. Fifth position R foot front. Execute a sissonne tombee to the fourth position croise into a demi-plie on the R foot, bending the body forward; coupe dessous L, throwing the R leg forward to 90 degrees, making a quarter-turn en dehors; immediately spring into the air, continuing the turn to the right, and land on the R foot in demi- plie in attitude croisee derriere. The whole movement is executed without a pause.Sbe Tour de reins.

Jete en tournant en arriere, grand (Cecchetti method) [grahn zhuh-TAY ahn toor-NAHN ah na-RYEHR]. Large jete, turning and moving backward. Same as jete entrelace (Russian School); jete dessus en tournant, grand (French School).

Jete en tournant en avant, grand (Cecchetti method) [grahn zhuh- TAY ahn toor-NAHN ah na-VAHN]. Large jete, turning and moving forward. Fourth position R foot front, pointe tendue. Step to the right on the R foot. Spring into the air, executing a grand rond de jambe en dedans with the L leg and turning in the air to the right. During the turn, bring the L foot to retire devant, then quickly pass the R foot to retire devant (both knees are bent as the feet pass each other in the air). Come to the ground in demi-plie on the L foot with the R foot in retire devant. See Saut de basque.

Jete en tournant par demi-tours [zhuh-TAY ahn toor-NAHN par duh-mee-TOOR ]. Jete, turning by half-turns. These jetes are like the jetes dessus or dessous done traveling to the side and making a half-turn with each jete. The first half-turn will be en dedans and the next en dehors.

Jete en tournant par terre [ zhuh-TAY ahn toor-NAHN par tehr ]. Jete, turning close to the floor. Fifth position R foot front. Demi-plie, throw the R foot with a gliding movement on the floor, in the direction efface en avant, into a jete en avant, keeping the jete close to the floor; land on the R foot in demi- plie in arabesque with the L leg a la demi-hauteur; jump into the air, joining the L leg behind the R in the fifth position, making a complete turn to the right. Land on the L foot in demi-plie with the R foot sur le cou-de-pied devant. This jete is performed consecutively, en diagonale or en manege.

Jete entrelace [ zhuh-TAY ahn-truh-la-SAY ]. Jete interlaced. A term of the Russian School. This jete is done in all directions and in a circle. It is usually preceded by a chasse or a pas couru to give impetus to the jump. Stand on the R leg facing corner 2 in the second arabesque a terre. On the upbeat, demi-plie and raise the L leg to 45 degrees, inclining the body slightly forward; step on the L foot in demi-plie toward corner 6, opening the arms to the second position; throw the R leg forward to 90 degrees (passing through the first position) toward corner 6 and push off the floor with the L leg. At the same time, lower the arms, then quickly raise them through the first position to the third position to help provide force for the jump. During the jump the body turns in the air to the left and the L leg is thrown out (the legs almost come together and appear to interlace), passes the R in the air and finishes in the back at 90 degrees. The landing is made on the R leg in demi-plie in the first arabesque facing corner 2, on the spot from which the jump began. In the French School this is called “grand jete dessus en tournant”; in the Cecchetti method, “grand jete en tournant en arriere.”

Jete entrelace, double [ DOO-bluh zhuh-TAY ahn-truh-la-SAY ].

Double jete entrelace. A term of the Russian School. This step is performed only by male dancers with a strong technique. After the working leg has been thrown forward at 90 degrees, the other leg comes to meet it and the body leans back so that it forms a horizontal position in the air and does a double turn in the air before landing in arabesque.

Jete entrelace battu [ zhuh-TAY ahn-truh-la-SAY ba-TEW ]. Jete entrelace with a beat. After the R leg is thrown forward at 90 degrees, the L leg beats beneath the R, then the legs change so that the L leg beats in front and again in back; the body turns in the air and the L leg is thrown backward to land on the R leg in arabesque.

Jete enveloppe [ zhuh-TAY ahn-vuh-law-PAY ]. Jete enveloped. This is a term of the French School. The jete enveloppe is a jete dessus done en tournant en dedans, making a complete turn or a half-turn. Fifth position R foot front. Brush the L leg to the second position a la demi-hauteur and execute a demi-grand rond de jambe en dedans, making a complete turn to the right in the air. Land on the L foot in demi-plie, facing the audience, with the R leg raised en raccourci derriere or en attitude.

Jete ferme [zhuh-TAY fehr-MAY]. Jete closed. This is a jete in which the feet close to the fifth position. It is performed in two counts. The demi-plie is done on the upbeat, the transfer of weight on the first count and the close to the fifth position on the second count. It may be performed derriere, devant and change in the directions croise, efface and ecarte. For jete ferme derriere, demi-plie in the fifth position R foot back; throw the R foot to the second position at 90 degrees; and spring off the L foot, traveling to the right and opening the L leg to the second position at 90 degrees. Land on the R foot in fondu and lower the L foot pointe tendue, then slide the L foot into the fifth position front in demi-plie, inclining the torso and head to the right.

Jete fondu de cote [zhuh-TAY fawn-DEW duh koh-TAY ]. Jete melting or sinking, to the side. Jete fondu is technically the same as jete ferme, the only difference being in the ending. The closing leg is put down softly and gradually into the fifth position.

Jete fondu sur la pointe (Russian School) [zhuh-TAY fawn-DEW sewr lah pwent]. This is a soft, flowing step performed in a series en diagonale, either forward or backward. En avant: Fifth position croise L foot front. Traveling toward corner 2, demi-plie on the upbeat and execute a petit developpe efface devant with the R leg; pique forward on the R foot and developpe L croise devant at 45 degrees. As the L leg straightens, a soft fondu is made on the R foot. The step is then continued with a jete fondu on the L leg while doing a petit developpe efface devant with the R leg. En arriere: This is done in the same manner, reversing the direction and stepping backward onto point.

Jete fouette, grand [grahn zhuh-TAY fweh-TAY ]. Large jete whipped. This is a grand jete en avant ending with a rotation of the back leg in the hip socket so that the dancer lands facing the opposite direction from which he began the step, with his back leg extended in quatrieme devant en Fair.

Jete pas de chat, grand [ grahn zhuh-TAY pah duh shah]. Big pas de chat thrown. A term of the Russian School. This step may be done in a series or combined with other jumps, in a straight line, in a diagonal or in a circle. It is always preceded by a glissade or a coupe. Fifth position croise L foot front. Traveling from corner 6 toward corner 2, execute a glissade derriere with the R foot; push off from both legs, raising the R foot to the left knee, and fling it forward in a quick developpe in an unturned-out position to 90 degrees; simultaneously, open the L leg backward at 90 degrees so that the legs form a split. The jump finishes in demi-plie on the R leg and then the L foot does a passe par terre to the fourth position croise and pushes off again in the next grand jete pas de chat. The arms are held as in first arabesque or a deux bras.

Jete passe [zhuh-TAY pa-SAY]. Jete passed. There are three kinds of jete passe, forward, backward and to the side. All forms are preceded by a step into a demi-plie or a pas couru of three or five steps with an emphasis on the demi- plie at the end of the pas couru.

Jete passe en avant [zhuh-TAY pa-SAY ah na-VAHN]. Jete passed forward. The legs are thrown forward at 45 or 90 degrees (petit jete passe or grand jete passe). Stand in the pose croise devant with the L foot front and pointe tendue. Step on the L foot in demi-plie in the direction efface en arriere, raising the R leg forward. Spring from the L foot, throwing the L leg forward into the air and bending the torso back. There should be a moment in the air when both legs pass each other, then the landing is made on the R foot with the L leg croise devant en Fair. The L leg may also pass by means of a developpe into the pose croise devant.

Jete passe en arriere [zhuh-TAY pa-SAY ah na-RYEHR ]. Jete passed backward. The legs are thrown backward at 45 or 90 degrees (petit jete passe or grand jete passe). Stand in the pose croise derriere with the R foot back and pointe tendue. Step on the R foot in demi-plie in the direction efface en avant, raising the L leg in back. Spring upward from the R foot, throwing the R leg backward into the air and bending the torso back. There should be a moment in the air when both legs pass each other, then the landing is made on the L foot in attitude croisee derriere. Also called “pas de papillon.”

Jete passe de cote in second position [zhuh-TAY pa-SAY duh koh- TAY]. Jete passed to the side in second position. This jete passe is done at 90 degrees and the landing is made in third (Russian) arabesque, attitude croisee derriere or to the pose efface devant. The leg may do the passe through first position with a stretched knee or by means of a developpe.

Jete pique sur la pointe [zhuh-TAY pee-KAY sewr lahpwent ]. Jete pricked on the point. A term of the Cecchetti method. This is a small step on the points transferring the weight from one point to the other with the free foot raised sur le cou-de-pied devant or derriere.

Jete renverse, grand [grahn zhuh-TAY rahn-vehr-SAY ]. Large jete, upset. Fifth position R foot back. Demi-plie and throw the R leg to grande seconde. Spring off the L foot and land on the R foot in attitude croisee. Execute a pas de bourree en tournant en dehors with the L foot, bending the body to the right and then backward.

Jete-rotation [zhuh-TAY-raw-ta-SYAWN]. Jete rotation. Fifth position R foot front. Jete dessus on the L foot, making a half-turn en dehors. Releve on the L foot, completing the turn, and developpe the R leg to quatrieme devant croise. Tombe croise en avant on the R foot. This step is usually done in a series.

Jete sur la pointe (Cecchetti method) [zhuh-TAY sewr lah pwent]. Jete on the point. In the Cecchetti method a jete sur la pointe is similar to a pose, but whereas a pose is a quick movement used in allegro, a jete sur la pointe is a slow movement used in adage.

Jete sur la pointe (Russian School) [zhuh-TAY sewr lahpwent ]. Jete on the point. In the Russian School this term is used like the French School term “pique.” It is a step onto the point of one foot from a demi-plie. It is done either petit or grand in all directions and poses. In a petit jete, after stepping on point, the other foot is immediately placed sur le cou-de-pied, either devant or derriere. In a grand jete, the working leg is raised to 45 degrees, then a wide step is taken on point and the other leg raised at 90 degrees in attitude or arabesque. In the poses croise and efface devant and ecarte devant and derriere, the working leg steps onto point and the other leg is raised to the pose with a quick developpe.

Jete vole de cote [ zhuh-TAY vaw-LAY duh koh-TAY]. Jete, flying to the side. This is a grand jete to the second position finishing in attitude croisee or arabesque croisee derriere. See Jete passe de cote in second position.