What is the English meaning of ecarte?

What is the English meaning of ecarte?

• A. Forward
• B. To turn
• C. Spread or thrown apart
• D. To the second

Answer: (C)

Écarte means to spread apart. In ballet, écarte describes a position or movement where the legs are opened widely to the side, creating a clear separation between the feet. That sense of widening or separating is exactly what the term conveys, which is why the English meaning is “spread or thrown apart.” It isn’t about moving forward, turning, or directing toward the second position—those ideas have other terms in ballet (en avant, tourner, à la seconde). When you hear écarte, picture the legs moving away from one another to create a wide, open line to the side.

Écarte means to spread apart. In ballet, écarte describes a position or movement where the legs are opened widely to the side, creating a clear separation between the feet. That sense of widening or separating is exactly what the term conveys, which is why the English meaning is “spread or thrown apart.” It isn’t about moving forward, turning, or directing toward the second position—those ideas have other terms in ballet (en avant, tourner, à la seconde). When you hear écarte, picture the legs moving away from one another to create a wide, open line to the side.