Sus-sous, or sous-sus, is a classical ballet term that translates to “over-under” and describes when a dancer springs onto releve demi-pointe or pointe, quickly placing the back foot more closely behind the front in fifth position with fully stretched legs. The look a dancer having finished a sus-sous is a releve in a fifth position with legs tightly together. Many dancers are taught to imagine hiding their back foot’s toes, so that you only see “one set of toes and two heels” when looking from the front.
This step is very common in ballet and is seen in almost every ballet imaginable! It is taught in beginner ballet classes and once again once young dancers begin pointe classes. The idea of a sus-sous can more plainly be thought of simply releve in fifth position, however, if a dancer did not slide together their feet and legs, there would be a gap between the legs after the releve.
