Explain the difference between tendu à terre and dégagé in Cecchetti technique.

• A. Tendu à terre keeps the foot sliding on the floor with no lift; dégagé brushes the foot off the floor to a small height with pointed foot.
• B. Tendu à terre lifts the foot off the floor; dégagé keeps it on the floor.
• C. Tendu à terre uses turnout, dégagé uses turnout only.
• D. They are the same movement.

Answer: (A)

The difference is about whether the foot leaves the floor. Tendu à terre keeps the foot sliding along the floor with the leg fully extended and the foot never lifting off, creating a long, clean line along the floor. Dégagé adds a quick brush of the foot off the floor to a small height, with the toe still pointed and the leg extended, then it returns to the floor. So, tendu à terre is a floor slide with no lift, while dégagé introduces a brief elevation just off the floor for a light, quick brush. Both use turnout from the hip, but the lift (or lack of it) is the key distinction.