Mastering Battement Fondu: Technique, Practice, And Form

Battement fondu is a ballet term that means battement sinking down. It involves the dancer's supporting leg being slowly bent with the working foot pointing on the ankle. As the supporting leg straightens, the working leg also extends to a straight position in the air or with the toes on the floor. The movement is typically performed en croix, or to the front, side and back. The name comes from the French word fondu, which means melted, like melted cheese in a fondue. The exercise is meant to be performed smoothly and slowly, like melting snow.

The correct starting position

To begin a battement fondu, you must first position yourself correctly. This is a complex exercise, so it's important to get the starting position right.

The term 'fondu' means 'melted' in French, so the movement should be smooth and fluid. The exercise is typically performed en croix, or to the front, side, and back. Begin with your feet in first position, with your heels together and toes pointing outwards. Your arms should be in second position, with one arm extended in front of you, and the other curved behind. Your body should be facing one of the corners of the stage, at an oblique angle, so that the audience can see both shoulders and hips.

Your legs should be turned out, with your knees over your toes. Keep your hips straight and square, and your core strong. Your head should be held high, with the top of your head 'reaching for the sky'. Your weight should be evenly distributed over your supporting foot, with your heels firmly on the floor.

The working foot should be pointed on the ankle of your supporting leg, with the thumbnail of your working foot exactly on top of your inner ankle bone.

How to bend and straighten the legs

The term 'battement fondu' refers to a classical ballet term meaning "battement sinking down". It involves the bending and straightening of the legs. The dancer's supporting leg is slowly bent with the working foot pointing on the ankle. As the supporting leg straightens, the working leg also straightens and extends into the air or with the toes touching the floor.

The working leg can finish at a 45-degree or 90-degree angle, either in the air or on the floor. Regardless of the height of the working leg, both legs must straighten simultaneously and smoothly. The knees are not raised and the legs are not lifted until the exercise is performed at a 45-degree or 90-degree angle.

The movement should be performed smoothly and slowly, like melting snow or cheese. The dancer should focus on turning out the legs and hips rather than bending the knees. The upper body should also remain straight and stable, with the top of the head reaching towards the sky while the heels remain firmly on the ground.

It is important to note that the hips should remain immovable and square throughout the movement. Additionally, the weight should be evenly distributed over the supporting foot to maintain balance and prevent rolling in at the ankle.

The importance of turnout

Turnout, or the outward rotation of the legs and feet, is an essential aspect of ballet that greatly influences a dancer's technique and performance. Here are several reasons why turnout is crucial when executing a battement fondu:

Improving Strength and Stability

Turnout helps build strength in the legs and feet, enhancing a dancer's stability and balance. By turning out the legs and feet, the muscles are engaged in a way that increases lower body strength. This is especially important in battement fondu, where the supporting leg must be strong and stable to control the movement effectively.

Enhancing Lines and Aesthetics

The turnout creates visually appealing lines in ballet. When a dancer executes a battement fondu with proper turnout, their legs and feet form elegant and graceful lines. This aesthetic aspect is crucial in ballet, contributing to the overall beauty and artistry of the performance.

Injury Prevention

Maintaining correct turnout alignment helps distribute weight evenly across the supporting leg and foot during a battement fondu. This even weight distribution reduces the risk of injuries by ensuring that the force of the movement is absorbed by the entire leg and not just the joints or specific muscle groups.

Facilitating Smooth and Controlled Movements

Proper turnout enables dancers to execute the slow and controlled movements of a battement fondu with smoothness and grace. Turnout helps achieve the required bending and straightening of the legs simultaneously, ensuring the movements are fluid and seamless.

Developing Coordination

Practicing turnout improves a dancer's coordination and body awareness. Turnout requires precise control and understanding of the body's position in space, which translates into improved coordination during complex movements like battement fondu.

Keeping the hips straight

When performing a battement fondu, it is important to remember that the hips should remain immovable, regardless of the direction in which the legs are moving. This means that as you bend your supporting leg and extend your working leg, your hips should stay as straight as possible. Focusing on keeping your hips steady will help you maintain the correct form and improve your overall technique.

A helpful tip to achieve this is to pay attention to your turnout, which refers to the outward rotation of your legs from the hips. Instead of focusing solely on bending your knees, concentrate on turning your hips out and making your knees look behind you. By doing this, the bending process will happen naturally, and you will be less likely to lift or move your hips. Think of it as trying to turn your hips outward while keeping your upper body stable and controlled.

Another key aspect of maintaining straight hips is to ensure that your standing leg is correctly positioned. The standing leg plays an active role in a battement fondu, as it does a plié simultaneously with the battement of the working leg. Remember to fully turn out the standing leg and maintain proper form throughout the movement. This will help you keep your hips straight and stable.

It is also important to control your movements as much as possible. As you bring your working leg back to the sur le cou-de-pied position, focus on keeping your hips steady and immovable. With practice, your body will get used to the fact that your hips should remain straight during this step. Additionally, filming yourself during practice can help you identify any hip movement and make the necessary adjustments.

By following these instructions and tips, you can improve your technique and achieve the desired straight hips during a battement fondu. Remember that this movement is more complex, so take your time, focus on your form, and practice regularly to master it.

Finishing positions

Finishing Position

When you are finishing a battement fondu, your legs should be straight. The working leg can be either à terre (touching the floor) or en l'air (raised).

Remember, the hips should stay immovable and straight throughout the movement. Keep your spine straight and lengthened, with the top of your head reaching for the sky.

Your feet should be turned out, with the working foot's thumbnail exactly on top of the inner ankle bone. This is called the sur le cou-de-pied position.

Finally, the supporting leg should be slowly straightened, with control. This will help you maintain balance and stability as you finish the movement.

Frequently asked questions