entrechat
Definition
Noun: - A jump in ballet during which the dancer crosses the legs several times, alternately beating the calves together, while in the air. - The entrechat is a technically demanding step that showcases the dancer's agility and control.
Usage Examples
Advanced Usage
- "entrechat quatre": an entrechat with four beats (two crossings of the legs).
- Her entrechat quatre was so clean it seemed effortless.
- "entrechat six": an entrechat with six beats (three crossings).
- The male dancer executed an entrechat six during the grand pas de deux.
- "entrechat royal": a specific type of entrechat where the dancer beats the legs and lands in fifth position.
- The entrechat royal requires precise timing and strong turnout.
Variants and Related Words
- Entrechat (n): the base term; no direct variants, but it appears in ballet terminology as a fixed form.
- Related: cabriole (a similar jump with a beat, but the legs are extended).
Synonyms
- Beat: a general term for striking the legs together in ballet, but not a perfect synonym, as entrechat specifically involves crossing and beating.
- Battement: a broader term for leg movements; not interchangeable.
Related Idioms
- "To do an entrechat": used figuratively to mean performing a complex or showy maneuver.
- He did an entrechat of excuses to avoid the question. (Rare, informal usage.)
Phrasal Verbs
- None directly associated with "entrechat" as a noun. It is not used as a verb in standard English.