Saut de basque

A saut de basque is a traveling jump in which the dancer turns in the air while one leg is drawn up into a retiré position at the knee. The name refers to a “Basque jump,” and the step combines forward travel with a full rotation, so the dancer seems to spin sideways through the air as they cover ground.

Anatomy of the Jump

The dancer usually approaches with a step or chassé to gather momentum, then pushes off one leg while brushing the other out to the side. As the body leaves the floor it rotates, and the pushing leg snaps up into retiré at the knee of the turning leg. The dancer completes the turn in the air and lands on one leg, ready to continue traveling. The combination of jumping, turning, and traveling all at once is what makes it striking.

Where It Appears

Saut de basque is a grand allegro step, meaning it belongs to the big, high-flying jumps that cross the stage. It is often performed in a series along a diagonal or in a circle around the stage (a manège), building excitement as the dancer repeats the turning jump again and again. Because it asks for elevation, a clean turn, and a strong single-leg landing all together, it is an advanced step that dancers work toward after mastering simpler turns and jumps.

Good spotting and a tight retiré help keep the rotation controlled, while a deep plié on landing absorbs the force and prepares the next jump.