Piqué Piqué is a term used in ballet to describe the transfer of weight from ballet dancer on full pointe or demi-pointe.

Piqué means “pricked” or “pricking,” and in ballet it describes stepping directly onto a straight leg on full pointe or demi-pointe. Instead of rolling up through the foot, the dancer places the pointed foot down and steps sharply onto it, transferring the weight in one clean movement. You can think of it as “pricking” the floor with the toe and rising onto it at the same moment.

How the Step Works

In a piqué, the working leg reaches out, the foot points, and the dancer steps onto that leg with the knee straight and the body lifted. The transfer of weight is quick and direct, which gives piqué steps their crisp, precise look. Keeping the supporting leg fully straight and the core lifted is what allows the dancer to arrive on top of the leg with control rather than sinking.

Where You See It

Piqué appears in many steps, most famously the piqué turn, where the dancer steps out onto a straight leg and turns. It also shows up in traveling patterns like a piqué manège, a circle of piqué turns around the stage. Because it demands strong feet, ankles, and balance, piqué is a step dancers refine over a long time. For students, clean piqués are a sign of secure placement and strong pointe or demi-pointe work.