Raccourci

Raccourci is a term used mainly in the French school of ballet, and it has the same meaning as retiré. It describes the position in which the working leg is bent and drawn up so the pointed foot rests at the side of the supporting knee, with the thigh lifted and turned out.

Because different training methods sometimes use different words for the same shape, you may hear raccourci in one studio and retiré in another; both refer to that neat, drawn-up position of the leg. This position is the foundation for many steps, including pirouettes and passé, where the leg passes through this shape. Recognizing raccourci simply means recognizing retiré under a different name.