Rivoltade

A rivoltade is a demanding jump performed by male dancers in which one leg is thrown into a high battement in the air while the other leg jumps over it, the whole action carrying a turn. The result is a striking, airborne step where the dancer seems to leap over his own leg while rotating, ending facing a new direction.

How the step works

The dancer throws one leg upward into a strong, high battement. As that leg rises, he springs off the floor and passes the other leg over the raised one, turning in the air during the jump. The two legs effectively trade places over the top of the movement, and the dancer lands having rotated to face the opposite way. Because so much happens in a single moment in the air, the timing between the high battement, the push from the floor, and the turn must be precise.

Why it is an advanced step

Rivoltade requires strong elevation, powerful legs, and excellent air awareness, which is why it belongs to the family of bravura steps showcased by male dancers. It is not a step for beginners; dancers build toward it with strong grand battement, secure jumps, and confident turns in the air. Keeping the body lifted and the throwing leg high gives the room needed to pass the other leg over cleanly. When performed well, a rivoltade looks bold and athletic, one of the more spectacular jumps in the male vocabulary.