Photo by Mark Sumaylo • Text by Abigail Oliveiro

Step: Coupé

How: A Coupé means “to cut”. Here, the dancer is demonstrating a Coupé Devant where the working foot cuts in front of the standing leg. A Coupé, while similar looking to a Passé, is done at a much lower height above the ankle bone. This step is usually a preparation or connecting step leading up to a bigger movement.

Tip: Keeping the rotation of both the working and standing legs open when the working thigh is held lower than 90° requires a little more effort. The turn out really has to come from the deep lateral rotators, underneath the gluteus maximus (the bottom of your bottom). Doing additional strengthening exercises will help train the muscles to keep activated when performing this step among many.

Dancer: Katherine Barkman, Resident Guest Principal Artist

Location: Ballet Manila Studio 3