Which term corresponds to the definition 'cutting step'?

Which term corresponds to the definition 'cutting step'?

• A. Coupé
• B. Dessous
• C. Dessus
• D. Pas de chat

Answer: (A)

A cutting step is a quick action where the working foot “slices” across or past the other leg, ending in a small, precise landing. In ballet vocabulary, that cutting motion is described by the term coupé, which literally means cut. It captures the idea of the foot making a brief, sharp crossing movement. The other terms describe different ideas: dessous and dessus refer to passing under or over the leg (the path of the foot relative to the supporting leg), and pas de chat is a jumping cat-like step. So the term that matches the definition of a cutting step is coupé.

A cutting step is a quick action where the working foot “slices” across or past the other leg, ending in a small, precise landing. In ballet vocabulary, that cutting motion is described by the term coupé, which literally means cut. It captures the idea of the foot making a brief, sharp crossing movement. The other terms describe different ideas: dessous and dessus refer to passing under or over the leg (the path of the foot relative to the supporting leg), and pas de chat is a jumping cat-like step. So the term that matches the definition of a cutting step is coupé.