The Degage Step in Ballet Dancing

Video Transcript

" Hi! My name is Connie Hale and thanks for joining me here at expertvillage.com. Today we are learning some beginner ballet moves. We are doing some bar work today. We are now moving on to degage. Starting in a fifth position is a tendu that is lifted off the ground just slightly; just elevated a little bit. So again, tendu is pointing front and in and degage is a more staccato move; up down up down. It is coming slightly off the ground. Notice I come through and point and it comes back flat. Come to your point and I want you to be sure you are leading with your heel when you are sliding forward; front down, front down, to the side, side close back, side close back, side close front. Degage to the back, back close, back close, back close. Notice how we point and in. Top of the foot is facing the side. I don't want this; we are not flickering it away. It's coming up to the side and in. So again, degage is to the front, front, front, front, front to the side, side, side, side, side and back, back, 2 and 3 and 4 and those are degages. "