What Is a Jete in Ballet?

Ballet

A jeté is a ballet jump that requires extreme leg strength and control, making it one of the most difficult of all ballet jumps. In French, jeté means ‘thrown’ and this describes the action of the jump which involves throwing one leg in front of the other.

It is a beautiful and elegant move that can be used in dance solos, duets or group pieces.

The Technique

The dancer begins with their feet together and then jumps off one foot while pushing off with the other. The momentum carries them through the air, with one leg extended forward and the other behind them.

As they land on both feet, the arms should remain held in a graceful position for balance.

Variations

There are many variations of a jeté such as grand jeté, petit jeté, passé jeté, assemblé jeté and more. The technique for each is similar but each requires different levels of athleticism and strength to execute correctly.

The Benefits

A jeté provides dancers with an excellent opportunity to practice their strength, flexibility and balance skills in addition to developing their performance skills. It also helps improve coordination between arms and legs as well as overall body mechanics.

Conclusion

A jeté is an exciting move that showcases a dancer’s strength and skill in ballet technique. It requires immense control over your body mechanics which makes it a challenging move to perfect but also provides great benefits when mastered.