Ballet Term
Brisé Volé
A Brisé Volé is a term in ballet that means “flying Brisé.” A Brisé Volé is easily described as when a ballet dancer alternates between a Brisé front and back in succession.
A brisé volé translates to “flying brisé,” and the name captures the feeling perfectly: the dancer looks like they are skimming through the air, first to the front and then to the back, over and over. It is a showy beaten step built out of a brisé, which is itself a small jump where the legs beat together in the air.
Front and back in succession
The defining feature of a brisé volé is that the dancer alternates between a brisé to the front and a brisé to the back in continuous succession. On the front version the working leg brushes and beats forward, and the dancer lands on one leg with the other extended in front. On the back version it travels behind. Done one after another, the step creates a light, darting, birdlike quality across the stage.
Because each landing is on a single leg with the other leg reaching out, brisé volé asks for quick beats, a strong push off the floor, and precise coordination between the legs and the upper body. The arms and head usually shift with each change of direction to complete the flying look.
Where it appears
Brisé volé is a famous piece of the male dancer’s vocabulary and turns up in classical variations where a series of them travels in a line or a small pattern. One of the best known examples is the Bluebird variation, where flying brisés help give the dancer the impression of a bird in flight. Learning it well takes clean single brisés first, since the flying version simply strings those together with speed and lightness.
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
What does brisé volé mean?
It means "flying brisé." The dancer alternates a brisé to the front and a brisé to the back in quick succession, creating a light, flying appearance across the stage.
How is brisé volé different from a plain brisé?
A brisé is a single beaten jump. A brisé volé links brisés front and back one after another, landing on one leg each time with the other extended, so it looks like continuous flight.
Do you land on one leg or two?
On one leg. Each brisé volé finishes on a single supporting leg with the other leg extended front or back, which is part of what gives the step its darting, birdlike look.