Chassé
/ÊĂŠËseÉȘ/noun
A ballet step in which one foot appears to chase and replace the other as the dancer moves.
Did you know?The term comes from French chasser, âto chase,â which developed from Latin roots associated with seizing or capturingâturning pursuit into choreography.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*kap-
âTo seize, grasp, or takeâ
Classical Latin
Latin
capere
âTo take, seize, or captureâ
Vulgar Latin
Vulgar Latin
*captiare
âTo pursue or try to catchâ
9thâ12th Century
Old French
cachier
âTo chase or huntâ
12thâ15th Century
French
chasser
âTo chase, drive away, or huntâ
17th Century
French
chassé
âChased; a dance movement in which one foot follows the otherâ
19th Century
English
chassé
âA ballet step in which one foot chases the otherâ