"Dancers, many dancers today can do so much technically. You can give them steps that are complicated, then more complicated, pyrotechnical–and they can execute these steps to perfection. But to do simple steps with a pure classical line, that is truly difficult." -Natalia Makarova
Introduction
Pas de cheval–step of the horse– is a step normally done at the barre, but that often translates to the center, particularly in adagio and petit allegro. It is the kind of step that really shows technique, so be sure to keep the following things in mind:
- Always go through coupé or sur le coup de pied (whatever your teach prefers)
- Completely extend your leg
- Brush the floor as you close, and be sure to find fifth
- Master enveloppé
Coupé or Sur le Coup de Pied
The key component of pas de cheval is the coupé or sur le coup de pied (which means "on the neck of the foot") that you must pass through before extending your leg. Different teachers have different preferences, and using either step is correct. I personally prefer coupé, because whenever you do pointe work, you never use sur le coup de pied. That said, be sure to do whatever your teacher asks.
When you lift your foot into coupé, you want to keep your foot connected to your ankle, and really "roll" through your foot to get to a full point. As you lift your leg, keep your heel coming forward and your kneed pushing back in order to maximize your turn out. You want a sharp, quick movement, just as you do in devéloppé. Be sure to differentiate your foot position depending on whether you are starting the pas de cheval from the front, side, or back. This is especially important if you choose to use sur le coup de pied; note that in this case, if you are starting the pas de cheval from the back, you must go through coupé, and not sur le coup de pied, because there is no such thing as sur le coup de pied derrière. This is another reason why I find it easier and more consistent to just do the pas de cheval with coupé.
When you lift your foot into coupé, you want to keep your foot connected to your ankle, and really "roll" through your foot to get to a full point. As you lift your leg, keep your heel coming forward and your kneed pushing back in order to maximize your turn out. You want a sharp, quick movement, just as you do in devéloppé. Be sure to differentiate your foot position depending on whether you are starting the pas de cheval from the front, side, or back. This is especially important if you choose to use sur le coup de pied; note that in this case, if you are starting the pas de cheval from the back, you must go through coupé, and not sur le coup de pied, because there is no such thing as sur le coup de pied derrière. This is another reason why I find it easier and more consistent to just do the pas de cheval with coupé.
Doing the Pas de Cheval
To do your pas de cheval, you start with your coupé/sur le coup de pied and then go into a small devéloppé, either to the front, to the side, or to the back. Technically, as soon as your leg is completely extended, you have finished the pas de cheval, but in practice, it is often not complete until you close your leg back into fifth. When doing this, follow the same path that your leg takes when closing from tendu or dégagé. Pass through tendu, then through demi pointe, and finally close your foot into fifth.
In the most basic form of pas de cheval, the standing leg remains straight at all times. In choreography however, this is usually not the case. In many ballets, notably in "Paquita," the pas de cheval starts with a plié in fifth position. As the leg lifts into the pas de cheval, the standing leg straightens, but as the leg becomes fully extended, it is lowered to tendu soutenu, in which the standing leg is again in plié. This is commonly done in frappé combinations at the barre.
In the most basic form of pas de cheval, the standing leg remains straight at all times. In choreography however, this is usually not the case. In many ballets, notably in "Paquita," the pas de cheval starts with a plié in fifth position. As the leg lifts into the pas de cheval, the standing leg straightens, but as the leg becomes fully extended, it is lowered to tendu soutenu, in which the standing leg is again in plié. This is commonly done in frappé combinations at the barre.
Envéloppé
Envéloppé is the counter step to both devéloppé and pas de cheval. To do an envéloppé, start in fifth and brush the leg out (to the front, side, or back) into dégagé, and then bring your foot into coupé (don't forget to pull your knee back as your bring in your leg), and then close into fifth. Envéloppé does not usually appear in choreography, but is something that many teachers do in class because it is a great way to perfect the use of your turn out in extensions.
Please excuse my lack of links and pictures. I could not find any that I liked enough to put on the blog.