What does “Retiré” mean in ballet?
A position of the working leg in which the leg is raised turned out and bent at the knee to the side so that the toe is located directly in front of (retiré devant) or behind (retiré derrière) the supporting knee. This is commonly used in pirouettes and as an intermediate position in other movements such as développé front.
New to ballet? Read our ballet guide — history, the five positions, class structure and how adults can start.
Definition adapted from Glossary of ballet on Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Nearby terms
Quatre
Four of something, as in pas de quatre (a dance by four dancers).…
Relevé
( ; 'raised, lifted.') Rising onto the balls ( demi-pointe ) or toes ( pointe ) of one or …
Relevé lent
( ; 'lifted slowly.') Abbreviation of battement relevé lent . Term from the Russian school…
Renversé
An attitude presented on a turn.…
Revoltade
A bravura jump in which one lands on the leg from which one pushes off after that leg trav…
Rond de jambe
( ; meaning 'leg circle.') Half-circle made by the pointed foot, from fourth front or back…
Royale
Another name for changement battu. A changement with a beating of the legs preceding the f…
Révérence
( ; 'reverence, bow.') A bow, curtsy, or grand gesture of respect to acknowledge the teach…