Assemble Ballet

Jacklyn Dougherty

Assemble, double [ doob la-sahn-BLAY ]. Double assemble. A term of the Russian School. This step consists of two assembles to the second position at 45 degrees; the first assemble is done without changing the position of the legs and the second with a change.

Assemble, grand [ grahn ta-sahn-BLAY ]. Big assemble. The jump is higher and the working leg is swept into the air into a horizontal position or a la hauteur. The legs join in the fifth position in the air before coming to the ground.

Assemble, petit [ puh-TEE ta-sahn-BLAY ]. Little assemble. The working leg is swept into the air with a battement to a point midway between a position of the foot a terre and its equivalent en l’air. This position is called demi- position in the Cecchetti method or demi-hauteur in the French School.

Assemble battu [ a-sahn-BLAY ba-TEW]. Assemble beaten. Assembles dessus, dessous and en tournant may be done with beats.

Assemble dessus battu: Fifth position R foot back. Demi-plie, brush the R leg to the side and push off the floor with the L foot. On the return to fifth position the R leg beats the L in the back, opens slightly and comes to the ground simultaneously with the L leg in the fifth position R foot front. The beat is made with the calves.

Assemble battu en tournant: This assemble is done dessus. The working leg beats in the back, and finishes in the fifth position front.

Assemble coupe [ a-sahn-BLAY koo-PAY ]. Cut assemble. This is a term of the Cecchetti method for an assemble started from one foot. The working leg may be sur le cou-de-pied or pointe tendue or raised en Fair. The working leg closes into the fifth position without a brush.

Assemble coupe derriere [ a-sahn-BLAY koo-PAY deh-RYEHR ]. Assemble cut behind. A term of the Cecchetti method. Stand on the R foot with the L foot sur le cou-de-pied derriere or pointed in the fourth position derriere a terre or en Fair. Demi-plie and spring off the R foot. Come to the ground in demi-plie in the fifth position L foot back.

Assemble coupe devant [ a-sahn-BLAY koo-PAY duh-VAHN]. Assemble cut in front. A term of the Cecchetti method. Stand on the R foot with the L foot sur le cou-de-pied devant or pointed in the fourth position devant a terre or en l’air. Demi-plie and spring off the R foot. Come to the ground in demi-plie in the fifth position L foot front.

Assemble derriere [ a-sahn-BLAY deh-RYEHR ]. Assemble in back. Fifth position R foot back. The R foot slides out to the second position en Fair and at the completion of the assemble closes in the fifth position back.

Assemble dessous [ a-sahn-BLAY duh-SOO ]. Assemble under. Fifth position R foot front. The R foot slides out to the second position en Fair and at the completion of the assemble is closed in the fifth position back. Also called “assemble en remontant” or “assemble en reculant.”

Assemble dessus [ a-sahn-BLAY duh-SEW\. Assemble over. Fifth position R foot back. Demi-plie and slide the R foot to the second position en Fair. Push from the ground with the L foot, extending the toes. Both feet return to the ground simultaneously, landing in the fifth position R foot front, with a soft demi-plie. The tips of the toes reach the ground first, then the heels. Also called “assemble en descendant.”

Assemble de suite [ a-sahn-BLAY duh sweet]. Continuous assemble. A term from the Cecchetti method used when assembles are executed in a series without straightening the knees at the conclusion of each assemble.

Assemble elance [ a-sahn-BLAY ay-lahn-SAY]. Assemble, darting. An assemble dessus traveled to the side. See Assemble porte.

Assemble en arriere [ a-sahn-BLAY ah na-RYEHR]. Assemble backward. Fifth position R foot back. The R foot slides backward to the fourth position en Fair and at the completion of the assemble closes in the fifth position back. This assemble may be done in place or traveling backward.

Assemble en avant [ a-sahn-BLAY ah na-VAHN]. Assemble forward. Fifth position R foot front. The R foot slides forward to the fourth position en Fair and at the completion of the assemble closes in the fifth position front. This assemble may be done in place or traveling forward.

Assemble en descendant [ a-sahn-BLAY ahn day-sahn-DAHN]. Assemble coming down or moving downstage. A term of the French School. Same as assemble dessus.

Assemble en remontant or en reculant [ a-sahn-BLAY ahn ruh- mawn-TAHN (or) ahn ruh-kew-LAHN]. Assemble going up or drawing back (moving upstage). A term of the French School. Same as assemble dessous.

Assemble en tournant, grand [ grahn ta-sahn-BLAY ahn toor- NAHN]. Big assemble, turning. This assemble is done in the same manner as grand assemble. It is taken only dessus or derriere. It is traveled directly to the side, on a diagonal traveling upstage, in a circle, etc. It is usually preceded by a pas couru or a chasse. The battement at 90 degrees to the second position is taken facing upstage, then the dancer completes the turn en dedans and finishes the assemble facing the audience.

Assemble porte [a-sahn-BLAY pawr-TAY\. Assemble carried. This assemble requires a preparatory step to precede it and during the actual assemble the body is carried in the air from one spot to another in the desired direction. Assembles devant, derriere, dessus and dessous may be porte.

Assemble soutenu (Cecchetti method) [ a-sahn-BLAY soot-NEW]. Assemble sustained. In the Cecchetti method an assemble is said to be soutenu when the knees are straightened and another demi-plie is made before executing the next assemble.

Assemble soutenu de face [ a-sahn-BLAY soot-NEW duhfahss ]. Assemble sustained and facing the audience. This assemble is not a jumping step. It is done on the pointes or demi-pointes and may be performed dessus, dessous, derriere, devant, en avant and en arriere. For assemble soutenu dessus, stand in the fifth position R foot back. Demi-plie, sliding the R foot to the second position pointe tendue a terre; draw the R leg into the fifth position front, springing on the pointes or demi-pointes, then lower the heels in demi- plie in the fifth position. Also called “assemble soutenu sur les pointes.”

Assemble soutenu en tournant (demi-tours) [ a-sahn-BLAY soot- NEW ahn toor-NAHN (duh-mee-TOOR)]. Assemble sustained in turning (half-turns).

En dedans: Fifth position R foot back. Fondu on the L leg and at the same time slide the R foot to the second position a terre, pointe tendue (degage). Draw the R foot into the fifth position front, rising on the demi-pointes. Pivot a half-turn to the left (demi-detourne) to face the back of the room, finishing with the L foot front. Lower the heels in demi-plie.

En dehors: Still facing the back of the room with the L foot front, fondu on the R leg and at the same time slide the L foot to the second position a terre, pointe tendue (degage). Draw the L foot into the fifth position back, rising on the demi-pointes. Pivot a half-turn to the left (demi-detourne) to face the front of the room, finishing with the L foot front. Lower the heels in demi-plie.

Assemble soutenu en tournant en dedans [ a-sahn-BLAY soot-NEW ahn toor-NAHN ahn duh-DAHN ]. Assemble sustained and turning inward. Fifth position R foot back. Fondu on the L leg and at the same time slide the R foot to the second position a terre, pointe tendue. Draw the R foot into the fifth position front, rising on the demi-pointes and turning en dedans (to the left) to face the back of the room with the feet in the fifth position, R foot front. Pivot a half-turn to the left (demi-detourne) to face front, finishing with the L foot front. Lower the heels in demi-plie. This is the method of the Russian School. The French School begins the step with a demi-rond de jambe a terre en dedans instead of drawing the working foot straight in to the fifth position from the second position.

Assemble soutenu en tournant en dehors [ a-sahn-BLAY soot-NEW ahn toor-NAHN ahn duh-AWR]. Assemble sustained and turning outward. Fifth position R foot front. Fondu on the L leg and at the same time slide the R foot to the second position a terre, pointe tendue. Draw the R foot into the fifth position back, rising on the demi-pointes and turning en dehors (to the right) to face the back of the room with the feet in the fifth position, R foot back. Pivot a half-turn to the right (demi-detourne) to face front, finishing with the R foot front. Lower the heels in demi-plie. This is the method of the Russian School. The French School begins the step with a demi-rond de jambe a terre en dehors instead of drawing the working foot straight in to the fifth position from the second position.

Assemble soutenu sur les pointes [ a-sahn-BLAY soot-NEW sewr lay pwent]. Assemble sustained on the points. Same as assemble soutenu de face.