What Is a Coupe in Ballet

Coupe´ Cut, cutting. A step is said to be coupe when shortened. (

What does Coupe look like in ballet?

Coupé is a classical ballet term meaning “cut” or “cutting.” A coupé describes a step where one foot cuts the other foot away, taking its place. Its usually done as an in-between step for a larger step, such as a coupé jeté or a coupé-chassé en tournant (the typical preparation for many big jumps for males).

What do you call a ballerina on her toes?

A dancer’s spin, especially when he’s balanced on one foot, is a pirouette. A pirouette is a ballet term meaning to whirl or spin while balanced on the toes. In the case of a ballerina, she would pirouette while “en pointe,” poised on the very toe of her shoe with the other leg bent.