To jump in ballet, you first execute a controlled bend of the knees called a plié to gather momentum, then powerfully push off the floor through your feet, extending into the air, and finally land softly back into a plié to absorb the impact.
Ballet jumps are fundamental movements that add dynamics, elevation, and artistry to dance. While the basic mechanics of pushing off and landing remain consistent, the variety of jumps (known as "sautés" or "leaps") involves specific footwork, body positions, and directions, each with its own French name.
The Anatomy of a Ballet Jump
Every ballet jump follows a common sequence, irrespective of its complexity:
1. Preparation: The Plié
The plié (pronounced plee-AY), meaning "bent," is the cornerstone of all ballet jumps.
- Action: From any ballet position (e.g., first, second, or fifth), you bend your knees deeply, keeping your heels on the ground for a demi-plié or lifting them for a grand plié (depending on the specific jump).
- Purpose: This muscular contraction loads your leg muscles, acting like a spring that stores potential energy, ready for release. It also allows for a controlled take-off and landing.
2. Take-Off: The Push
This phase converts the stored energy into upward propulsion.
- Action: From the plié, you push powerfully through the balls of your feet, then through your toes, straightening your legs and extending your ankles to propel yourself into the air. The torso remains upright, and the core is engaged.
- Key Insight: The power comes not just from the legs, but also from the coordination of the entire body, including arm movements which can aid elevation and balance.
3. Airborne Phase: Maintaining Form
Once in the air, the dancer aims to maintain a specific shape or perform a particular movement.
- Action: While aloft, the body holds the desired position—whether that's legs together, extended, or crossing. Dancers strive for height, lightness, and controlled execution.
- Goal: To create an illusion of suspension and effortless grace, often pausing briefly at the peak of the jump.
4. Landing: The Absorption
A controlled landing is crucial for safety, continuity, and artistry.
- Action: You land softly, first on the balls of your feet, then rolling through to the heels, immediately returning into a deep plié. This action absorbs the impact and prepares for the next movement.
- Importance: A soft landing protects the joints, demonstrates control, and allows for a smooth transition to subsequent steps.
Basic Ballet Jumps Vocabulary
Understanding the vocabulary of ballet jumps is essential, as each term describes a specific action. Here are some fundamental types:
| Jump Type | Description | Literal Meaning (French) |
|---|---|---|
| Sauté | A jump that takes off and lands on two feet, often in the same position (e.g., sauté in first position). The basic building block for many other jumps. | Jump |
| Échappé Sauté | Starting in a closed position (e.g., fifth), the dancer jumps, opening both legs to a second or fourth position in the air, then lands in the open position. | Escaped jump |
| Assemblé | A jump from one foot to two feet. The working leg assembles to meet the other leg in the air, landing simultaneously on both feet, usually in fifth. | Assembled |
| Jeté | A jump that "throws" one leg into the air while springing off the other, landing on the "thrown" leg. Can be small or large (Grand Jeté). | Thrown |
| Sissonne | A jump that takes off from two feet and lands on one foot, with the other leg often extending in various directions (e.g., sissonne fermée, sissonne ouverte). | (Named after the originator, Comte de Sissonne) |
| Changement (de pieds) | A jump from fifth position, changing which foot is in front in the air, and landing back in fifth position with the opposite foot leading. | Change (of feet) |
Échappé Sauté, as mentioned in basic ballet jump vocabulary, involves an "escaping" movement where the feet quickly move from a closed to an open position in the air. This rapid opening and closing dynamic is a characteristic of many agile jumps.
Practical Tips for Better Jumps
- Strengthen Your Core: A strong core provides stability and control, essential for elevation and maintaining proper alignment in the air.
- Deep Pliés: Ensure your pliés are deep and controlled, maximizing the spring effect. Don't rush this preparatory phase.
- Point Your Toes: Fully extending your feet and pointing your toes in the air (and during the push-off and landing) enhances the line of your leg and contributes to a clean aesthetic.
- Use Your Arms: Arms are not just for aesthetics; they aid balance and can contribute to lift. Coordinate arm movements with your leg actions.
- Breathing: Learn to breathe with your movements. Holding your breath can create tension, hindering fluidity and height.
- Consistent Practice: Like all ballet techniques, jumps require consistent and dedicated practice to build strength, coordination, and muscle memory. Always practice under the guidance of a qualified ballet instructor to ensure correct form and prevent injury.
Understanding and mastering these fundamental elements and various types of jumps will allow a dancer to express the dynamic and often exhilarating aspect of ballet.
