Tombé

A tombé is a fall from one leg onto the other. The word means fallen, and that is exactly the feeling: the dancer lets the body tip and transfers weight by falling through a plié onto the working leg. It is small but important, and it is often used to gather momentum into a bigger step.

How it is performed

Usually the dancer starts with the working leg lifted or extended, then falls onto it, catching the weight in a soft plié as the foot arrives on the floor. The upper body travels with the weight so the fall looks smooth and intentional, not like a stumble. The catch in plié is what makes it safe and gives it the springy energy to launch whatever comes next.

Where you will see it

Tombé very often begins a combination, most famously in tombé, pas de bourrée, a linking phrase that sets up turns and jumps. Because it moves the body and lowers it into a plié, it is a natural way to build power and direction before a pirouette, a jeté, or another large step.

Tips for beginners

Let the fall be a real transfer of weight, not just a step in place. Reach the working leg out, then allow the body to follow onto it and sink into a controlled plié. Keep your core engaged so the fall stays graceful and you land ready to move into the next step.