Beats

In ballet, “beats” is the everyday English word for battu, which means “beaten.” A dancer adds beats by crossing and re-crossing the legs quickly in the air during a jump, so the calves or ankles seem to beat against each other. Beats do not change what a jump is for. They make it harder, faster, and more brilliant by adding sharp, decorative leg action while the dancer is off the floor.

How beats work

Beats are added on top of an existing jump. During the moment in the air, the dancer opens the legs slightly and then crosses them, often more than once, before landing. The crossing is small and quick, driven by the inner thighs and turnout rather than big swinging of the lower legs. Because the whole thing happens in a fraction of a second, beats demand a strong jump with enough hang time, plus fast, controlled legs.

Where you will see them

Many familiar steps have beaten versions. A jeté becomes a jeté battu, an assemblé can be beaten, and steps like entrechat, brisé, cabriole, and royale are all built around beats. Beaten steps live mostly in allegro, and the crisp, flashing legs are a big part of what makes petit allegro look dazzling.

Common mistakes

Beginners often try to create beats by flicking the lower legs from the knee, which looks loose and muddy. Real beats come from the thighs meeting with the turnout open, so the beat is sharp and the legs stay long. Not jumping high enough is the other common problem, since there is no time to cross the legs cleanly without enough air.