Different types of Glissade

Glissade is a Ballet step that is done by sliding side to side brushing feet to the floor. Glissade is a terre which is a step that is used to link other steps. After doing a demi-plie in fifth position the working foot slides along the floor, brushing the floor to a strong point a few inches from the floor. The other foot then pushes away from the floor so that both knees are straight and both feet are strongly pointed from a moment. The weight is shifted to the working foot with a fondu.

There are six glissades, devant derriere, dessous, dessus, en avant, en arriere. Devant means in front so it implies that the working foot is closed in the front. Derriere means in the back and it means that the working foot is closed in the back. Dessous means under and it indicated that the working foot passes behind the supporting foot. Dessus means over which is that the working foot passes in front of the supporting foot. En avant means forward and it is the direction from the execution of the step used to indicate that a given step is executed moving forward, toward the audience. En arriere means backward, it indicated that the step executed moves away from the audience.