detaché

Détaché, sometimes written with the accent as détaché, is a classical ballet term meaning detached. It refers to a movement in which the working leg brushes the floor with a smooth, continuous motion and then extends into the next position, with the foot held fully pointed. The gesture is typically executed from one position of the legs (often a fifth position) and ends in a closed position or in preparation for the next step. The emphasis is on the clean, effortless brush rather than on a strong downward strike.

Etymology and usage: The word comes from the French détacher, meaning “to detach.” In ballet vocabulary, détaché describes a link between steps, offering a transition that is more fluid than a frappé (which strikes the floor) and more controlled than a grand battement. The movement can be performed in various directions (en avant, en arrière, en dehors, en dedans) and may finish with a small elevation or in another position.

Technique and execution: From a stable base, such as fifth position, the dancer plies, then slides the working foot along the floor in a brushing arc while maintaining a pointed toe. The leg may then lift slightly into the next position or close in front, behind, or to the side, depending on the choreography. Détaché is valued for its light, buoyant quality and its ability to connect steps with a seamless line.

Relationship to other steps: Détaché serves as a linking movement between glissade, petit battement, and jump steps, and is commonly taught early in classical training as a fundamental facility of turnout, control, and footwork.

See also: frappé, glissade, battement, jeté.