What Does en Haut Mean in Ballet?

Ballet

En Haut (translated to English as ‘on high’) is a term used in ballet which refers to the placement of the arms and hands. In ballet, en haut is often seen in pas de bourrée, jeté, grand jeté and other movements which involve the jumps and leaps. The arms are placed in a high position above the head with the elbows slightly bent and fingers extended.

The use of en haut helps to create an illusion of lightness when executing jumps and leaps. By extending the arms upward, dancers can seem to defy gravity as they soar across the stage.

It also creates a sense of gracefulness by elongating the body’s lines and making them appear longer than they actually are. Additionally, it gives off an impression of weightlessness which adds to the aesthetic appeal of a particular dance sequence.

In addition to its physical benefits, en haut can be used to portray certain emotions or feelings on stage. By raising their arms above their heads, dancers can convey feelings such as joy or triumph while performing. This is especially true when executing jumps or leaps since these movements symbolically represent overcoming obstacles or achieving something remarkable.

En haut is also used for alignment purposes in ballet classes. When teachers instruct their students on how to position their arms for certain steps, they will often use phrases like ‘en haut’ or ‘up high’ in order to make sure that everyone has understood what needs to be done correctly.

In conclusion, en haut is an important term used in ballet which refers to the placement of the arms and hands above the head with slightly bent elbows and extended fingers. It helps create an illusion of lightness while soaring across the stage as well as giving off an impression of weightlessness which adds to its aesthetic appeal.

Additionally, it can be used for alignment purposes in classes as well as conveying certain emotions when performing on stage. In summary, ‘en Haut’ is an essential phrase used in ballet that describes raising one’s arms above their head with slightly bent elbows and extended fingers while performing jumps and leaps on stage – a technique that provides both physical benefits such as creating an illusion of lightness and emotional benefits such as conveying certain emotions through movement.