Sus-sous

Sus-sous, sometimes spelled sous-sus, is a crisp little rise onto the toes that draws the feet tightly together into one narrow line. The name means “over-under,” a hint at the way the two feet stack closely, one just behind the other. It looks simple, but a clean sus-sous is a real sign of good pointe and demi-pointe technique.

How it works

From fifth position, the dancer springs up onto the balls of the feet, rising to full pointe or demi-pointe, and at the same moment draws the back foot in as close behind the front foot as possible. The legs pull fully straight and the feet squeeze together so tightly that, seen from the front, they can look almost like a single foot. The rise is quick and lively, with a small spring rather than a slow press, so the dancer pops up onto the toes and holds a tall, pulled-up line.

The details are what make it beautiful: fully stretched knees, tightly closed heels and toes, and a strong lift up out of the floor. Because there is such a narrow base, balancing in sus-sous takes control and a well-placed center.

Where you will see it

Sus-sous appears constantly, both as a step on its own and as a way to travel or link movements. Dancers use it to rise into a balance, to move lightly across the floor in tiny bourrée-like steps, and to finish a phrase with a neat, pulled-together shape. It is one of the first things dancers practice when they start pointe work, since the tight fifth position on the toes teaches the strength and precision that harder pointe steps will demand.