Balancé (Bah-lahn-SAY) Ballet

Balancé (Bah-lahn-SAY)

A rocking or swaying step in triple time.

In Cecchetti Ballet: Trains coordination, rhythm, and

breath in dance phrasing.

Ballet Balancé (Bah-lahn-SAY): Grace in Motion
with Jacklyn Dougherty

In classical ballet, few steps capture the feeling of effortless sway and musicality quite like Balancé (bah-lahn-SAY). Light, traveling, and rhythmically fluid, Balancé is often one of the first steps dancers learn that truly feels like dancing rather than just placing positions together. Whether performed softly across the floor or sparkling within a grand allegro, Balancé embodies the elegance and flow at the heart of ballet technique.

What Is Balancé in Ballet?

The word balancé comes from the French verb balancer, meaning “to swing” or “to rock.” True to its name, the step creates a gentle side-to-side motion, shifting the dancer’s weight smoothly from one foot to the other. Balancé is commonly used as a linking step, traveling sideways or diagonally while maintaining a continuous sense of movement.

In its most basic form, Balancé is performed in three counts, often described as:

Step
Step
Close (or lift)

Despite its simplicity, Balancé demands coordination, control, and musical awareness.

How Balancé Is Performed

A classic Balancé à la seconde to the right might look like this:

Step onto the right foot to the side, slightly plié.
Step onto the left foot, shifting weight smoothly.
Close or lift the right foot, often to sur le cou-de-pied or retiré, depending on choreography.

The upper body gently responds to the weight shift, creating a natural sway rather than a rigid motion. Arms often move through low fifth or softly open to second, enhancing the flowing quality of the step.

Balancé can travel sideways, forward, backward, or on the diagonal, and it appears in both petit and grand allegro, waltz combinations, and classical variations.

Musicality and Timing

Balancé is deeply connected to waltz rhythm and triple meter music. The dancer must feel the rise and fall of the step, allowing plié and relevé to work together. When danced musically, Balancé looks buoyant and effortless—almost as if the dancer is gliding across the floor.

This is where many dancers struggle: rushing the step or making it too sharp can cause Balancé to lose its signature swing. The goal is continuity, not punctuation.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even though Balancé is often taught early, it requires refinement. Watch out for:

Stiff upper body instead of natural épaulement
Over-stepping, which disrupts balance
Dropping the heel too heavily, losing lightness
Forgetting plié, which removes the swing quality

Balancé should never feel forced. It should breathe.

Why Balancé Matters in Ballet Training

Balancé teaches dancers essential skills:

Smooth weight transfer
Coordination of arms, head, and torso
Musical phrasing
Control while traveling

Because it appears so frequently in choreography, mastering Balancé early helps dancers move more confidently through complex combinations later on.

Learning Balancé with Jacklyn Dougherty

Renowned ballet educator Jacklyn Dougherty emphasizes clarity, musicality, and artistry when teaching Balancé. Her breakdowns focus on clean footwork, controlled transitions, and expressive movement—making the step accessible for beginners while still valuable for advanced dancers refining their technique.

If you’re looking for clear ballet explanations and step-by-step instruction, be sure to explore Jacklyn Dougherty’s YouTube channel, where she shares educational ballet content for dancers of all levels:
👉 Jacklyn Dougherty on YouTube

Final Thoughts

Balancé may look simple, but within it lies the essence of ballet: balance, flow, musicality, and grace. When danced well, it becomes more than a step—it becomes a feeling. By focusing on smooth transitions, expressive movement, and proper technique, dancers can transform Balancé into one of the most beautiful and versatile steps in their ballet vocabulary.

Let it swing. Let it breathe. Let it dance.

Much Love

Jacklyn Dougherty