Failli

A failli is a quick linking step that a dancer uses to gather energy and set up something bigger, usually a jump. It happens fast, almost like a passing brushstroke, so it can be easy to miss if you do not know what to look for.

What happens in a failli

In a failli the dancer appears to dégagé each leg to the front in turn, one right after the other, joined with a small jump and a shift of the body. Often it begins with a light spring, the body opening through the back leg, and then the legs brush through the front in quick succession before the dancer lands ready to move on. The whole action changes the dancer’s weight and facing so they are set up to launch into the next step.

Because it is a preparation, a failli is rarely the star of the moment. Its job is to flow smoothly into whatever follows, so it stays light and continuous rather than stopping in a clear pose.

Why dancers use it

Failli is a connector. Choreographers place it before jumps and traveling steps because it lets a dancer change direction and build momentum without a heavy pause. You will often see a failli lead straight into an assemblé or another jump, giving the dancer the swing and the correct weight shift to take off cleanly. Learning to do a failli that keeps moving, rather than settling, is what makes the steps that follow it look effortless.