From the White Board: Ballet in Motion

Entrechat Quatre

Entrechat quatre is a beaten jump. Whenever performing entrechat quatre, the crossing or beating of the legs (thighs) occurs side to side and underneath you. When jumping and beating the legs, always work to cross the thighs to show “sous-sus” in the air, and always perform the action of beating on the “up” of the jump.

Entrechat quatre is similar to royale because you are jumping straight up from 5th position and beating the legs under you. The difference in the action of the beat is that you beat the legs to finish in the 5th where the jump began. Entrechat quatre is also similar to the recovery from 2nd position in échappé changé because of the action of the beat.

To perform entrechat quatre:

• Begin in 5th position and jump upward and immediately open the legs through a small 1st position, to cross (beat) the legs.
• The front leg beats back and then returns front on the “up” of the jump to then land the jump in 5th position.
• The legs pass through very small and fast 1st positions when crossing sous-sus during the beat in the “up” of the jump.

It is important to use your demi-plié at the beginning and ending of all jumps, and to maintain a long lengthened torso. It is also important to avoid leaning forward or backward when jumping as it can stress the body and makes jumping difficult.