Movement Demonstration

Definition

Assemblé: Assembled or joined together. It has many different variations in classical ballet, but the basics are always the same: two legs joining together in the air.

In a basic form, an assemblé is when one foot slides along the floor before brushing into the air.  As the foot goes into the air, the dancer then jumps by pushing into and off the floor with the supporting leg and foot.  The supporting leg now meets with the other leg in the air and “assembles” into a fifth position.  The dancer then lands on the floor with a plié in fifth position.

If an assemblé is porté, it requires a preparatory step such as a glissade to precede it. If an assemblé is en tournant, it must be preceded by a preparatory step. Assemblés are done petit or grand according to the height of the battement and are executed dessus, dessous, devant, derrière, en avant, en arrière, and en tournant. They may be done en face, croisé, efface, or écarté. Assemblé may also be done with a beat for greater brilliance. In the Cecchetti assemble, both knees are bent and drawn up after the battement so the flat of the toes of both feet meet while the body is in the air.

As assemblé is a jump, it is seen during petit allegro and grandé allegro combinations during a classical ballet class. Since there are many forms of assemblé, such as a double assemblé, assemblé battu, among many others, a dancer can execute a variety of assemblé that may look quite different but still have the basic “assembling” in the air.

Movement Techniques

1. Movement Explanations:
   1. Start in Fifth position.
   2. Slightly lift your foot to the side, higher than a tendu.
   3. Lift yourself up and to the side, take off with one foot in pointe.
   4. Bend your standing leg in a plié.
   5. Land in Fifth position.
2. Movement Techniques:
   1. Assemblé while demonstrating a Fifth position in the air.
   2. Keep your feet close together.