Sous-sus is a critical element of ballet technique that helps dancers to maintain balance, land safely after jumps, and transition smoothly between positions. Sous-sus literally translates to “under-over” in French, which refers to the alternate pushing and pulling of the legs while in the air. It is important for dancers to understand how to do sous-sus properly in order to execute their movements with finesse and grace.
The Basics of Sous-Sus
Sous-sus begins when a dancer pushes off the ground into the air with one or two feet. The dancer then alternates between pushing and pulling each leg as they rise into the air.
As they do this, they should try to keep their legs straight and pointed outward from their body at all times. This will help them keep good balance as they move through space. After reaching their peak height, the dancer then pulls both legs together as if doing a grand plié before landing back on the floor with both feet at once.
Getting Into Position
Before attempting sous-sus, dancers should be sure that they are in the correct position for maximum control of their movements. For example, when doing an assemblé (a jump in which one foot is pushed off from the other), it is important that the dancer is fully extended—with both feet flat on the ground—before pushing off into a jump. This will help ensure that they have enough power behind their movements to make it safely through each step of sous-sus without losing control or balance.
Building Strength
In order to be able to perform sous-sus correctly, dancers must also have strong leg muscles so that they can push and pull against each other without getting tired or losing control. Strengthening exercises such as pliés, relevés (rising onto toes), and jumps can help build strength and endurance for successful sous-sus performance.
Practicing Sous Sus
Once dancers have mastered the basics of sous sus and have built up enough strength for it, they can begin practicing with more complex steps such as grand jetes (a continuous jumping motion) or pirouettes (spinning). It is important for them to remember to keep their legs straight throughout these movements so that they can maintain balance and control while completing them successfully.
Conclusion
Sous sus is an essential part of ballet technique that requires strong leg muscles and proper form in order for it to be performed correctly. It involves alternating between pushing and pulling each leg while in midair in order to help maintain balance while transitioning between positions or landing after jumps. Practicing basic steps such as pliés and relevés can help build up strength necessary for successful completion of more complex maneuvers involving sous sus such as grand jetes or pirouettes.