Teaching Ballet Fondue: A Step-By-Step Guide For Beginners

Teaching ballet can be a challenging but rewarding endeavour. One of the fundamental movements in ballet is the 'fondu', derived from the French word for 'melted' or 'melting'. A fondu is a complex exercise where the dancer performs a plié on one leg while the other leg executes a different movement, such as lifting into a coupé and then stretching out. This step requires a smooth, fluid, and controlled movement, almost as if the dancer's legs were moving through water or mud. The fondu is an excellent way to build strength and improve coordination, especially for jumps that require landing on a single leg. When teaching this step, it's crucial to emphasise the importance of proper form, including maintaining a straight body position, distributing weight evenly, and coordinating the movement of both legs smoothly. Practising the fondu slowly and with resistance can help dancers refine their technique and improve their overall performance.

Explain the meaning of 'fondu'

The word 'fondu' comes from the French word for 'melting' and is used in ballet to describe a specific type of movement. Fondu is a classical ballet term that refers to a controlled and gradual movement where a dancer bends their supporting leg while performing a plié on a single leg. It is one of the most beneficial exercises at the barre, as it allows dancers to work against gravity, push strongly against the floor, and focus on controlling the movement throughout.

When performing a fondu, the dancer starts in the first position, with their heels together and toes pointed outward. They then slowly bring their leg into a coupé, with toes pointed and knees bent. From this position, the dancer bends their supporting leg, and both legs open up to the front very slowly, as if moving through water or mud, or as if the legs were made of taffy or bubblegum. This movement is then reversed, with the legs bending and stretching back into the first position.

It is important to note that the knee of the supporting leg is pointed over the second toe to avoid rolling in. The hips should also remain square to the wall, and the toes should be pointed. The dancer should feel the inner thighs working as they stretch the leg, contracting the teardrop muscle.

The quality of the movement should be smooth and slow, like melting snow or cheese, with the dancer striving upwards with their spine while their heels remain firmly on the ground. The hips should remain immovable, and the standing leg should be turned out properly, with the knee bending over the supporting foot to maintain correct alignment and prevent injury.

Demonstrate the basic movement

To demonstrate the basic movement of a fondu, start in the first position, with your heels together and toes pointed outward. Slowly bring your leg into a coupé, with toes pointed and knees bent. From here, bend your supporting leg, and open both legs to the front very slowly, as if moving through water or mud, or as if your legs were made of taffy or bubblegum. Bend both knees and stretch, then straighten both legs.

The knee of the supporting leg should be pointed over the second toe, so it doesn't roll in. Keep your hips square to the wall and your toes pointed. You should feel the inner thighs working as you stretch the leg.

The fondu is a movement that means 'melting' or 'to melt' in French, so it should be performed very smoothly and slowly. Just like melting snow or cheese, you need to go smoothly and slowly into a plié and then up from a plié simultaneously with straightening your leg.

When performing a fondu, you want to find the place between your calf muscle and your ankle, and this is where you want to put your toe. Ensure you have a nice foot position that's not sickled or winged. Place your foot in that position, bend both legs together, and then straighten them.

Highlight common mistakes

Common Mistakes in Fondu Ballet

When teaching Fondu ballet, it is important to be aware of some common mistakes that students may make. Here are some key points to highlight:

• Incorrect starting position: Ensure that students begin with their heels together and toes pointed outward. The starting position is crucial for maintaining balance and executing the fondu smoothly.
• Lack of control: Remind students to perform the movement with control and fluidity. Even when done quickly, the fondu should be graceful and deliberate, rather than rushed or jerky.
• Improper knee placement: The knee of the supporting leg should remain pointed over the second toe to maintain stability. Students may forget this and let their knee roll inwards.
• Incorrect hip movement: Hips should remain immovable and level throughout the fondu. It is common for students to lift their hips, especially when the leg goes back to the "sur le cou-de-pied" position.
• Inadequate turnout: Emphasize the importance of proper turnout, which is more about turning out the hips and knees than just bending the knees. Students tend to focus too much on the working leg, neglecting the turnout of the standing leg.
• Incorrect foot placement: The working foot should be placed exactly on top of the inner ankle bone, creating a "sur le cou-de-pied" position. This can be challenging, and students may struggle to find the correct placement.
• Lack of spine extension: Encourage students to strive upwards with their spine, reaching towards the ceiling. This helps create the correct body line and improves balance.
• Incorrect weight shift: When beginning a fondu from a position like fifth, students need to shift their entire position to a new center line. They may struggle with this adjustment, causing them to lift their hips or move their shoulders to compensate for balance.

Show how to incorporate 'fondu' into combinations

When incorporating fondu into combinations, there are several key elements to keep in mind. Firstly, ensure that the movement remains controlled and fluid, whether performed slowly or at a quicker pace. This is essential to maintain proper form and prevent injury.

Begin with the dancer in the first position, with heels together and toes pointed outward. From this starting point, the dancer will slowly bring their leg into a coupé, with toes pointed and knees bent. The supporting leg should be bent, and both legs should open up to the front very slowly, as if moving through water or taffy, before stretching and closing. It is crucial that the knee of the supporting leg is pointed over the second toe to maintain proper alignment and prevent rolling in at the ankle.

The working leg can then extend to the front, side, or back, finishing either on the floor or in the air at a 45 or 90-degree angle. Regardless of the height of the working leg, both legs must straighten smoothly and simultaneously. The dancer should focus on engaging their turnout from the top of the supporting leg and maintaining level hips throughout the movement.

Incorporating fondu into combinations can be done through exercises such as rond de jambe en l'air, or in combination with other steps like rélevé, fouettés, and tombes. For example, a combination could involve a fondu performed in the fifth position, with the arm extended to the side, followed by a stretch and then a fondu to the back or front.

Remember, the key to a successful fondu is smoothness and control, ensuring the movement resembles melting, just like its namesake, fondue.

Explain the benefits of practising 'fondu'

Practising the fondu movement in ballet comes with a host of benefits for dancers. Firstly, it helps to develop strength and control in the legs, particularly the supporting leg, which must remain strong and stable throughout the movement. This single-leg plié, where one leg performs a plié while the working leg does a different movement, requires careful control and fluidity. This helps dancers gain strength and control, which can be translated into other steps, such as pirouettes and jumps.

The fondu is an excellent preparatory exercise for jumps that land on one leg. It teaches dancers how to land with proper placement and rotation, which is essential for a safer and more controlled jump. This movement also helps dancers improve their balance, as they must maintain their alignment and stability throughout. The fondu is often used as a transitional step in choreography, allowing dancers to move smoothly and fluidly from one position to another.

Additionally, fondu improves a dancer's flexibility and range of motion, making it easier to execute more complex movements. It is a challenging exercise that requires focus on maintaining proper alignment, turnout, and foot placement. Regular practice of fondu can help dancers improve their technique and become more well-rounded and skilled performers.

The fondu is a fundamental movement in ballet, and its benefits extend beyond the physical. The controlled and gradual quality of the movement helps dancers work against gravity and push strongly against the floor, translating into improved strength and control in countless other steps.

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