The term 'Sur le cou-de-pied' means 'on the neck of the foot'. The sur le cou-de-pied area is the tapered portion of the leg from the base of the calf to the mid-foot of the supporting leg. The working foot is placed on the sur le cou-de-pied, and is always fully stretched (not wrapped). There are 5 different positions of the working foot which is placed on the sur le cou-de-pied. Each of the 5 positions are used in a different way specific to particular ballet movements. It is necessary to understand how each position is used and for what movement.

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There are four positions which are considered to be in the front or 'devant':  1) the 'Basic Position' sur le cou-de-pied, 2) the 'Conditional Position', 3) the 'Low Conditional Position', and 4) the 'High Conditional Position'. There is only one position on the back of the leg: 5) the Sur Le Cou-De-Pied Derrière. All together, this makes a total of  5 positions sur le cou-de-pied.  (Note, there are three 'Conditional Positions'  'devant'. They are so named 'conditional' because these positions are used for specific, defined, movements.)

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In all five positions, the foot of the working leg is fully stretched through the instep and toes. Also, the Achilles' tendon is well pulled up towards the calf muscle (as if the leg was extended with a stretched foot in a battement tendu). Both legs are always actively turned out and the heel of the working foot is held well forward. Care must be taken to never relax, sickle or evert the working foot.