Which ballet term means 'under'?

Which ballet term means 'under'?

• A. Dessous
• B. Coupé
• C. Dessus
• D. Pas de chat

Answer: (A)

Dessous means under or underneath. In ballet terms, these forms describe the path or direction of a movement relative to the body or another leg, with dessous indicating that the action goes beneath. It contrasts with dessus, which means over or on top. So when you hear a phrase like battement dessous, think of the leg moving in a way that goes beneath the supporting line. The other terms listed describe different ideas: coupé is a small cut of the foot at the ankle, and pas de chat is a jump with a cat-like step; neither conveys the notion of under.

Dessous means under or underneath. In ballet terms, these forms describe the path or direction of a movement relative to the body or another leg, with dessous indicating that the action goes beneath. It contrasts with dessus, which means over or on top. So when you hear a phrase like battement dessous, think of the leg moving in a way that goes beneath the supporting line. The other terms listed describe different ideas: coupé is a small cut of the foot at the ankle, and pas de chat is a jump with a cat-like step; neither conveys the notion of under.