Ballotté

Ballotté is a rocking, swinging step built from a coupé dessous performed in a repeating sequence. The word suggests a tossing or rocking motion, and that is exactly how it looks: the dancer shifts weight back and forth so the body seems to sway between the two legs while one foot passes underneath the other.

How the Step Moves

The rocking quality is the heart of ballotté. As the dancer springs from one leg, the body tilts slightly and the other leg extends, then the motion reverses so the weight swings the opposite way. This gives the step a pendulum-like feel, almost like a boat rocking on water. The coupé dessous, where the foot cuts in behind and underneath, is what links each swing to the next.

Two Common Heights

Ballotté can be danced at two levels depending on the choreography. With straight knees, the legs extend to about 45 degrees, creating a lower, quicker version of the step. With développés, the legs unfold to about 90 degrees, giving a larger, more sustained rocking motion that shows off extension and control. Both versions keep the same back-and-forth swinging character.

Ballotté shows up often in classical variations, where its gentle rocking contrast helps break up sharper jumps and beats. Learning it teaches dancers to coordinate a jump with a shift of weight and a clear leg extension all at the same time, which is why teachers often use it to build musical, flowing movement.