GRAND JETÉ
Grand jeté, translating to “big throw” in French*, is a ballet jump appearing often in class and performance. Grand jeté is a big jump step, with the goal of a split position in the air. This step is known for being a grand allegro step, although depending on your ballet training style, a saut de chat might be a more common big jump in your class. Grand jeté and saut de chat (see our previous technique Thursday post) are almost identical except for the path of the front leg into the jump. A grand jeté is defined by the front leg brushing the floor and straightening into the air, whereas the front leg of a saut de chat will developpé into the air.
In a grand jeté, the height of the jump is very important as well as the position at the top of the jump. Because this jump uses a front leg brushing through first in combination with a strong back leg pushing off to leave the ground, it’s important to coordinate exactly how and when both legs will leave the ground. To practice the correct action of the front leg brush, try working on grand battement front from first and fifth plié positions, as this is the same pathway of the grand jeté leg. Work on truly connecting with and brushing the floor with the foot as you straighten from a plié position into the grand battement. If you think of your foot’s connection to the floor as a source of power, this will be very helpful in reaching the jump position. However, because the front leg begins in a plié, it’s very important that the leg stretches and straightens immediately when leaving the floor. Imagine the back of the leg and knee straightening right away as the leg lifts and keep it lengthened as you reach the top of the jump.
Similar to a saut de chat, the back leg must push off powerfully and immediately when the front leg brushes through first position and disconnects from the floor. Imagine the heel of the front leg leading as it brushes through first position. This will set up a turned-out front leg. A grand jeté starts by stepping onto the leg that becomes the back leg in the jump, and it’s important to step with a turned out leg from the top of the rotators so that you will have those muscles already engaged and prepared to push off the floor as the front leg brushes through and off the floor.
The top of a grand jeté should feel like a stretched and expansive position, with energy through the farthest reaching points of the position. This can be difficult because there are so many elements of this jump and coordinating them all takes a lot of practice. It can be helpful to think of the front toe leading the jump and pulling the rest of the position along after it. Think of the back leg following and almost trailing behind in arabesque as you push toward the front toe. Make sure the back leg is just as stretched as it would be in an arabesque!
The upper body in any ballet position is important, but in a grand jeté it can truly complete the effect of floating in the air. As with all jumps, make sure your shoulders don’t try to assist with the jump. Keep your core lifted and engaged through the step, and imagine lifting your chest and keeping your back lifted in opposition to the back leg. Keeping an awareness and lift in the upper body is also important as you land from a grand jeté. A trick to make your jump appear more lofty is to continue to hold the upper body position and almost lift more as you land instead of dropping the arms and back. Try to keep the whole position just as held and stretched in your landing as it was at the top of the jump. This can give the appearance that you were in the air even longer!
*translation source: ballethub.com
Have a wonderful Technique Thursday!
