developpé

[dih-vel-uh-pey, dev^uh-law-pey]

noun

plural

developpés 

1. a movement in ballet in which the free leg is drawn up beside the working leg and then extended into the air.

Word History and Origins

Origin of developpé¹

1910–15; < French, past participle of développer to develop

Example Sentences

As she glided across the stage, advancing with spins that came to sudden stops or extending a leg to the side in développé, her progression through the steps could be read as an unwavering journey, refined and forthright.

Read more on New York Times

In “Aureole,” nothing is put on: The dancing begins with an overhead opening of the arms that never seems flowery or grand, but an invitation to watch the human body struggle and succeed through precarious balances that allow a free leg to unfold and extend, or développé, in space.

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Usually a développé — a movement in which one raised leg unfolds into a straight line — is done on a stationary supporting leg, but Mr. Gomes twice did a développé backward into arabesque while hopping.

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“So she added this giant développé whack! Clearly she’s thinking about creating for us as Rockettes but making it new and fresh.”

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Carrie Ann, on the other hand, “liked the fluidity of motion” but thought the developpe had to point a little harder.

Read more on Los Angeles Times