Cabriole

A cabriole is a beating jump whose name means caper, like the leap of a frisky goat. In a cabriole, the dancer springs into the air from one leg while the other leg is thrown upward. The lower leg then rises to beat against the underside of the raised leg, sending it even higher, before the dancer lands back on the takeoff leg. The result is a bright, springing accent that is one of the most exciting beaten steps in classical ballet.

How a cabriole is performed

The dancer pushes off from one leg as the working leg brushes strongly into the air, to the front, back, or side. At the top of the jump the underneath leg beats up to meet the extended leg, and this beating action lifts the top leg to its highest point. The dancer then lands on the leg that started the jump while the other leg stays extended. Good cabrioles depend on a full, powerful brush of the working leg and a strong push from the floor, so the beat happens at the peak of the jump rather than on the way down.

Grande and double cabrioles

Cabrioles come in different sizes. A petite cabriole beats with the legs relatively low, while a grande cabriole throws the leg high, often near ninety degrees or above, and needs far more elevation. A double cabriole adds a second beat in the air before landing, so the legs come together and beat twice during a single jump. This double version is a bravura step, meaning it is showy and difficult, and it is usually danced by men in the grand classical repertoire.

Tips for young dancers

Cabriole is an advanced step, so build toward it with strong beats, good grand battement, and confident allégro. Focus on brushing the leg high before you beat, keeping your upper body lifted and calm, and pointing both feet hard. A cabriole should look buoyant, as if the beating leg tosses the other one skyward.