Ballet Ecarte
![Jacklyn Dougherty Ecarte [ ay-kar-TAY ]. Separated, thrown wide apart. Ecarte is one of the eight directions of the body, Cecchetti method. In this position the dancer faces either one of the two front corners of the room. The leg nearer the audience is pointed in the second position a terre or raised to the second position en l’air. The torso is held perpendicular. The arms are held en attitude with the raised arm being on the same side as the extended leg. The head is raised slightly and turned toward the raised arm so that the eyes look into the palm of the hand. See illustrations, p. 134. Ecarte derriere (Russian School) [ ay-kar-TAY deh-RYEHR]. Ecarte back. The dancer faces either one of the two front corners of the room (corners 2 or 8; see diagram p. 138) with the leg that is farther from the audience pointed in the second position a terre or raised to the second position en l’air. When the position is taken with the L leg extended, the dancer stands at an oblique angle to the audience, facing corner 8 with the L in second position pointe tendue a terre or raised to the second position en l’air pointing toward corner 6. The arms are held with the L arm curved over the head in the line of vision and the R arm held in demi-seconde position. The body leans to the right with the head turned to the right and the eyes looking down at the extended R arm. Ecarte devant (Russian School) [ ay-kar-TAY duh-VAHN]. Ecarte front. The dancer faces either one of the two front corners of the room (corners 2 or 8; see diagram, p. 138) with the leg that is closer to the audience pointed in the second position a terre or raised to the second position en l’air. When this position is taken with the R leg extended, the dancer stands at an oblique angle to the audience, facing corner 8 with the R leg in the second position pointe tendue a terre or raised to the second position en l’air pointing toward corner 2. The arms are held with the R arm curved over the head in the line of vision and the L arm held in demi-seconde position. The body leans to the left with the head turned to the right and the eyes looking up at the R hand. Ecarte en Fair [ ay-kar-TAY ahn lehr]. Separated, thrown wide apart in the air. The dancer springs into the air, throwing both legs to a wide second position, then lands with the feet closed. The jump may also be done throwing one leg forward and one back. See Ciseaux.](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/761138_fd1d48c5593e4e9786cfa3e82fd51cd9~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_980,h_1742,al_c,q_90,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/761138_fd1d48c5593e4e9786cfa3e82fd51cd9~mv2.png)
Ecarte [ ay-kar-TAY ]. Separated, thrown wide apart. Ecarte is one of the eight directions of the body, Cecchetti method. In this position the dancer faces either one of the two front corners of the room. The leg nearer the audience is pointed in the second position a terre or raised to the second position en l’air. The torso is held perpendicular. The arms are held en attitude with the raised arm being on the same side as the extended leg. The head is raised slightly and turned toward the raised arm so that the eyes look into the palm of the hand. See illustrations, p. 134.
Ecarte derriere (Russian School) [ ay-kar-TAY deh-RYEHR]. Ecarte back. The dancer faces either one of the two front corners of the room (corners 2 or 8; see diagram p. 138) with the leg that is farther from the audience pointed in the second position a terre or raised to the second position en l’air. When the position is taken with the L leg extended, the dancer stands at an oblique angle to the audience, facing corner 8 with the L in second position pointe tendue a terre or raised to the second position en l’air pointing toward corner 6. The arms are held with the L arm curved over the head in the line of vision and the R arm held in demi-seconde position. The body leans to the right with the head turned to the right and the eyes looking down at the extended R arm.
Ecarte devant (Russian School) [ ay-kar-TAY duh-VAHN]. Ecarte front. The dancer faces either one of the two front corners of the room (corners 2 or 8; see diagram, p. 138) with the leg that is closer to the audience pointed in the second position a terre or raised to the second position en l’air. When this position is taken with the R leg extended, the dancer stands at an oblique angle to the audience, facing corner 8 with the R leg in the second position pointe tendue a terre or raised to the second position en l’air pointing toward corner 2. The arms are held with the R arm curved over the head in the line of vision and the L arm held in demi-seconde position. The body leans to the left with the head turned to the right and the eyes looking up at the R hand.
Ecarte en Fair [ ay-kar-TAY ahn lehr]. Separated, thrown wide apart in the air. The dancer springs into the air, throwing both legs to a wide second position, then lands with the feet closed. The jump may also be done throwing one leg forward and one back. See Ciseaux.
