What Does De Cote Mean in Ballet?

Ballet

The term ‘de cote’ originated from the French language and is used in the world of ballet. It is an important term to understand as it helps to accurately describe the steps and movements of a dancer. De cote refers to a specific type of step, whereby the dancer moves their working leg away from their body and then inwards again.

The de cote movement can be seen in a variety of steps, such as grand rond de jambe en l’air, sauté de cote, passé de cote and pas de chat. In a grand rond de jambe en l’air, for example, the dancer will raise their working leg up and away from the body before bringing it back in again in a circular motion. Similarly, in a sauté de cote, the dancer will jump away from their body using their working leg before bringing it back again.

The main purpose of the de cote step is to create an aesthetically pleasing line with the body. This means that when performing these steps, dancers must ensure that they keep their bodies in correct alignment throughout. For example, when doing a pas de chat, dancers must ensure that they do not collapse their chest or extend too much energy through their arms.

De cote is an important concept to understand when studying ballet technique. By mastering this movement and its associated steps, dancers can create beautiful lines with their bodies and gain control over complex choreography.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, ‘de cote’ is a French term used in ballet which refers to a specific type of step whereby the dancer moves their working leg away from their body and then back again. This movement is important for creating aesthetically pleasing lines with the body as well as for mastering complex choreography. Knowing what ‘de cote’ means is essential for any aspiring ballet dancer!