Ballet Term
en Dehors
En Dehors is a common term meaning “outward.” En Dehors is added to other steps to signify which way a step should be moving. For example, a Rond de Jambe en Dehors would mean that the dancer would turn “outward” away from the supporting leg.
En dehors means outward, and it tells you the direction a step should travel. It is not a step on its own. Instead you add it to another step to say which way to move or turn. For turns, en dehors means turning away from the supporting leg. For a rond de jambe en dehors, the working leg circles from the front, out to the side, and around to the back, moving away from the standing leg.
You will hear it constantly at the barre and in center. A pirouette en dehors, for example, turns outward, in the direction of the raised, working leg. Its opposite is en dedans, which means inward. Learning to hear en dehors and en dedans quickly helps you follow combinations without missing a beat.
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
What does en dehors mean in ballet?
It means outward, and it tells the dancer that a turn or circling motion moves away from the supporting leg.
What is the opposite of en dehors?
The opposite is en dedans, which means inward, or turning toward the supporting leg.