Glissade is a French word meaning to glide or slide and is used in the context of ballet. It is a movement which involves the dancer gliding across the floor using a combination of steps and leaps.
The feet slide along the floor in a controlled manner while the body remains erect and balanced. The glissade can be used to transition from one part of the dance floor to another or can be used as part of a combination of steps.
Glissade is usually performed with both feet together, with one foot slightly ahead of the other. The back foot slides forward while the front foot pushes off and follows behind, creating an almost ‘sliding’ effect.
To ensure balance and control, it’s important that both legs remain straight throughout the movement. During this step, it’s also essential to keep your arms up and out to help maintain balance and create a graceful line for your body.
The glissade has become an important part of classical ballet technique, due to its ability to link two movements together in an elegant way. It has been used often by choreographers in their works, providing fluidity between steps or sections of dance. It can also be combined with various jumps such as pas de chat or sissonne to add variety and interest to a piece of dance.
In addition to being used in classical ballet repertoire, glissade can also be found in contemporary dance styles such as jazz or modern dance. Here it is often combined with other slides such as chasse or pas de bourree for an interesting effect. Glissade can also be used in social dancing such as salsa, where it adds flair and style to dances that are otherwise quite repetitive.
Overall, glissade is an important ballet technique that has many applications in both classical and contemporary styles of dance. It allows dancers to create beautiful lines while transitioning from one step or section of choreography to another with grace and control.
Conclusion: Glissade is a French word meaning “to glide” which describes an elegant sliding motion used in ballet technique that allows for graceful transitions between steps or sections of choreography. It is an important part of classical ballet repertoire but can also be found in contemporary dance styles such as jazz or modern dance as well as social dances like salsa.