Part 3: Janet L. Springer and the Five Positions Sur le Cou-de-Pied
Part 3: Janet Springer and the Five Positions Sur le Cou-de-Pied A Technical Foundation for Functional, Artistic Movement In the world of ballet, nuance is everything. Precision, clarity, and intention must exist in every inch of a dancer’s body—and few teachers articulate this better than Janet L. Springer . Known for her analytical and anatomy-informed approach to ballet instruction, Janet empowers dancers to move with purpose by thoroughly understanding how and why each step and position is used. One of the technical concepts she emphasizes is the proper use and understanding of sur le cou-de-pied , or “on the neck of the foot.” This seemingly small area becomes a powerful platform when used correctly—and according to Janet, there are five distinct positions of the working foot sur le cou-de-pied that every dancer should master. What Is Sur le Cou-de-Pied ? In ballet, sur le cou-de-pied refers to the tapered area between the base of the calf and the mid-foot of the sup...