Retourné

Retourné is a term in classical ballet describing a turning movement in which the dancer reverses the direction of travel by turning the body while the working leg passes through a passé. The movement is typically performed on pointe or demi-pointe, with the supporting leg bearing weight and the working leg briefly held in passé before the turn completes and the dancer ends facing a new direction. The term is of French origin; retourné literally means “turned back” and has been part of the ballet lexicon since the 17th–18th centuries.

In practice, retourné may be annotated as retourné en dehors or retourné en dedans, indicating the general direction of the turn relative to the supporting leg. The ending position of the working leg varies with the choreographer and the variation, and the turn can be executed as a single rotation or as part of a longer sequence. The movement is valued for its precision, control, and expressive capacity, contributing to the dancer’s ability to change orientation while maintaining lines and poise.

Historical and stylistic notes: retourneré appears in many classical repertoires and instructional treatises, reflecting the French influence on ballet vocabulary. While some modern techniques emphasize different turning figures, retourné remains a standard, albeit technically demanding, element in appropriate classical roles and pas de deux. As with many ballet terms, its execution relies on alignment, turnout, core engagement, and clean passage of the working leg through passé.