Ballet Dictionary: En Dedans
Photo by Mark Sumaylo • Text by Abigail Oliveiro
What: En dedans
“En dedans” is a classical ballet term describing an “inward” direction. It is always attached to another ballet term as the term only describes the direction which the step is following. For example, in this image, the dancer is doing a pirouette en dedans. This means that the dancer would turn “inward” to their supporting leg. In this case, the dancer would be turning toward her right foot. Another imagery that can be used to describe en dedans would be a closing action.
Tip: In en dedans, as it is an inward or closing motion, it is important to keep the rotation of the legs held so as not to give in to the inward motion and hence turn in the leg. To use this pirouette shown, although it is an inward action, both supporting and working legs have to still be rotated, heel forward and knee to the side, to maintain proper alignment in the pirouette. It is only the direction of the movement that is inward.
Dancer: Nanami Hasegawa, Ballet Manila Company Artist
Location: Ballet Manila Studio 2
