10/24/2026
Ballet Term of the Week đź©°
Dégagé - from French, meaning “disengaged.”
In ballet, battement dégagé involves brushing the working foot along the floor until it lifts slightly off the ground, then returning with control.
It may look like a small movement, but dégagé helps develop the speed and precision dancers need for more complex steps!
From a biomechanics perspective, dégagé requires coordinated movement through the hip, knee, ankle, and foot. The quick brushing action challenges dancers to accelerate the working leg while maintaining turnout, pelvic stability, and control of the supporting side.
These skills carry over into jumps, fast footwork, and other movements that require quick, precise leg action.
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