Guest DancingBoi Posted March 18, 2004 Report Share Posted March 18, 2004 In ballet class the teacher would say take a balance in coupé at the end of an exercise(which I assume should have been cou de pied) but apparently coupé is an action and not a position, which I did not know, so what exactly is the difference? Link to comment
Administrators Victoria Leigh Posted March 18, 2004 Administrators Report Share Posted March 18, 2004 The difference is that coupé means "to cut", and literally one foot replaces the other. The other foot may end in a cou de pied position, or it could be in almost any other position, but the step called coupé is an action. Therefore, technically, one cannot balance in coupé Sur le cou de pied is a position, therefore, one could balance in that position. Some of us use cou de pied devant and derrière to differentiate between the true wrapped around the ankle position and the one where the foot is front or back of the ankle. Some people call them all coupé, which is not only wrong, but extremely confusing, because when one wants a dancer to execute a coupé and they make a position instead, they are likely to get yelled at! Link to comment
ConstanzaElisabeth Posted March 18, 2004 Report Share Posted March 18, 2004 At my school, sur le cou de pied is wrapped around the ankle while coupe front is toe just above the ankle bone and coupe back is curve of heel just under the calf muscle. coupe derriere is sometimes called sur le cou de pied derriere depending on how you get into the position, and whether the front position is sur le cou de pied or coupe front...is this somewhat correct also? Link to comment
Administrators Victoria Leigh Posted March 18, 2004 Administrators Report Share Posted March 18, 2004 The problem with it, Constanza, is that when they call a position "coupé", and then they really want a coupé, the dancer does not know the difference! So, no, it is not technically correct. Link to comment
Guest DancingBoi Posted March 18, 2004 Report Share Posted March 18, 2004 This is so confusing So how does one perform a coupé? Link to comment
Administrators Victoria Leigh Posted March 18, 2004 Administrators Report Share Posted March 18, 2004 One performs a coupé by replacing one foot with the other! Stand in demi plié on one leg with the other foot in a cou de pied front position and bounce onto the foot that was lifted with the other one going to a cou de pied back position. You have done a coupé. Or, do a jeté over, then step on the back foot placing it where the other foot was and do a ballonné. You will have done a jeté/coupé/ballonné. Do a jeté over, step on the back foot placing it where the other foot was and do a pas de chat. You just did a jeté/coupé/pas de chat. You could also do a tendu croisé derrière, bring the tendu foot under the standing foot and release the standing foot to a tendu devant. You did a coupé when you replaced the standing foot with the other foot. Another way is when you do a chassé coupé or a tombé coupé. Coupé is used a LOT! You find it linking many other steps and movements throughout the vocabulary of ballet. Link to comment
Guest DancingBoi Posted March 19, 2004 Report Share Posted March 19, 2004 Okay, that makes a lot of sense now. I guess I've never had it broken down so simply before, thanks! Link to comment
Recommended Posts