Rivoltade is performed by male dancers. It is when they do a battement on a single in the air and jump over it with the other leg.

A rivoltade is a dramatic jumping step most often performed by male dancers. In it, the dancer throws one leg up into the air with a strong battement, then springs off the other leg and passes it over the first leg while turning in the air, before landing. The result is a bold, athletic movement in which one leg seems to jump over the other high off the ground, usually finishing in a pose such as arabesque. It is a step built to show power and elevation.

How the Jump Is Built

The rivoltade starts with a big brush of one leg upward, gathering height and energy. As that leg reaches into the air, the dancer pushes off the supporting leg and swings it up and over the raised leg while the whole body rotates. In effect, the second leg vaults over the first while the dancer turns, so the legs trade places in the air during the rotation. A strong, controlled landing on one leg completes the movement, often in an arabesque facing a new direction. The timing between the initial throw, the push, and the turn is what makes it work.

Why It Is So Impressive

Rivoltade combines height, rotation, and a striking leg-over-leg action, which makes it one of the more spectacular jumps in a male dancer’s vocabulary. It demands explosive power for the takeoff, coordination to pass the legs cleanly in the air, and strength to land under control. Because so much has to happen at once and high off the floor, it is an advanced step that dancers approach only after they have solid jumps and turns. When performed well, a rivoltade brings a thrilling sense of daring and athleticism to a variation.