glissade

Glissade, which translates to “gliding” in French, is typically a jumped step that appears frequently in class and onstage. Glissades really do have a gliding motion along the floor, using a brush from a plié fifth through tendu and jeté (dégagé) to get into the air. Glissades can happen in any direction- forward, sideways, or backwards, but are most commonly done traveling sideways, especially since they are useful for connecting larger steps in a combination or choreography to get you where you're going in either direction. Although these are commonly seen as connecting steps, they are sometimes done as their own center exercise where the glissades are done in a “box” shape with forward, sideways, and backwards traveling glissades. This is useful for practicing correct technique by focusing only on glissade and not the steps that come before or after it. 

Sometimes a petit allegro combination calls for connected glissades traveling sideways in one direction, with the fifth positions either alternating or keeping the same foot front. Glissades in a row also often use épaulement and upper body focus to create a more beautiful line through the step, especially since it’s not a step meant to showcase complicated foot or leg pathways. In a connected group of glissades, it’s important to place equal focus on each of the glissades and use the same attention to technique for each repetition of the step.

Sometimes it’s helpful to think of a glissade as a sandwich. First, there’s the fifth position plié and brush through tendu which continues to jeté/dégagé height (the bread), immediately lifting off into the jump portion (the filling) where the second leg also leaves the floor. At the top of the jump the legs should be equal, either in a second position in the air if traveling side, or in a fourth position in the air for forward or backwards glissade. The landing and closing (the other piece of bread) should be the reverse of the takeoff of the step, and when the second leg lands it should be the same as a jeté/dégagé that points all the way to the floor and brushes when closing into the fifth position plié once again. Reminding yourself that a glissade should start and end the same way is very helpful to ensure it doesn’t look like a failli or sissone. 

It’s important to remember to stretch the legs fully at the height of the glissade, either in the second or fourth position in the air. Think of the foot that brushes to begin the step pointing immediately as it leaves the floor. At the same time it leaves the ground, push quickly to straighten the supporting leg from plié and think of the toes also being part of the push off, pointing immediately to lift the second leg into the jump. The goal is to reach the top of the jump with both legs straight and “hold” the position in the air before coming back down to fifth. 

While a glissade may not seem like a very exciting step on its own, it can be very impressive when done with clean and correct technique. A glissade is as important as the steps it connects, and by paying attention to how the legs and feet are placed, and by adding complementary upper body port de bras, a glissade can truly be beautiful. 

Have a wonderful Technique Thursday!