échappe

Échappé, translating to “escaped” in French, is named for the action of the feet “escaping” in this step. An échappé can either be done on pointe, demi-pointe, or as a jump. An échappé will commonly transition from the initial fifth position to fourth or second with either a jump or a slide out to pointe or demi pointe. This step will usually be a jump if not danced en pointe, because the sliding transition is much more difficult in flat shoes. 

Échappé en Pointe 

A helpful hint to achieving your best échappé en pointe is the “escape” component the step is named for. Start with the best rotated fifth position you can maintain from the tops of your legs. In the initial plié, think of this rotation continuing as a spiral through your whole leg and down into the ground. This turned-out connection with the floor is very important, as it allows your feet to be able to slide out into the next position, either second or fourth. 

As your feet “escape” from the fifth, imagine them travelling equally along the floor as you simultaneously keep energy into the floor to lengthen and straighten the legs from your plié. It can even be useful to think of the feet as stealthy and quick while they get to their destination. This helps avoid too much time in the in-between moment of échappés. Try to straighten your legs fully as soon as you can, while moving the feet away from one another into the position you are reaching, whether that is fourth or second en pointe. By the time you are en pointe, your legs should already have straightened, making a fully stretched and lifted position as soon as possible. 

It’s useful to remember to use energy into the floor each time you échappé, because this step can easily turn into a jump onto pointe by accident. Jumping up to pointe instead of using the floor to slide into the position not only is potentially painful on your toes, it also takes longer to reach the crucial échappé position. 

Another very important element of an échappé is a lifted and held upper body. Even if the legs are using all the correct technique, an échappé won’t be its best without beautiful port de bras and a lifted upper body presence. Try to focus on maintaining an elegant port de bras, take unnecessary tension out of the upper body, and keep the strength and accent in the leg movement. 

Échappé Jump

Although there are numerous ways to perform échappé jumps, they commonly start from a fifth position then jump out to second or fourth (croisé or effacé). An échappé is often done with two linked jumps, the first échappé jump for reaching the second or fourth position, and the second jump to close back into fifth. 

For échappé linked with a jump returning to fifth, it's important to keep momentum and power through the step, especially for the second jump which returns you to fifth. To maintain this and keep your jumps strong, do not “shorten” your plié or get stuck in the plié position for too long. Instead, land with a plieffacé that can continue to lengthen until you take off again. Use the first landing in second or fourth to spring immediately back up to the jump that closes fifth. Using the momentum of the landing will be much more efficient than restarting completely for the next jump. In every échappé jump landing, it’s also helpful to roll through your feet as they reach the floor to absorb the jump power and maximize the usefulness of your plié. 

When the legs travel out to the second or fourth position in the échappé, think of the position they reach as a snapshot moment in the air. The legs should quickly arrive and hold the position before landing. Maintaining a lifted upper body can also help the jump be its best in the air. Make sure that the upper body is not trying to “help” the jump take off with tension and lifted shoulders. Instead, a held core and relaxed port de bras will create a better position at the top of the jump, and can even help you jump higher by consolidating the strength into the legs.

Have a wonderful Technique Thursday!