Fermé

Fermé means closed. In ballet it describes how the legs and feet finish a step, telling you that the movement ends with the feet drawn together, usually in fifth position. It is a small but useful word because it changes the shape of a jump or step depending on how it ends.

A clear example is the sissonne fermée: the dancer jumps into the air and closes both feet into fifth position on landing. Compare that with a sissonne ouverte, which lands open on one leg. You will hear fermé attached to several steps to signal a closed finish. When a teacher calls for a fermé ending, focus on pulling the feet neatly together with turnout and a soft plié so the close looks tidy and controlled.