| Battement fondu can be done as a melting adagio | | | | ***Is your postural plumb line stable from the depth to |
| exercise, or as a crisper faster movement. It is always | | | | the height of the movement? |
| elastic in quality, as it is designed to develop the thighs | | | | ***Can you feel an elastic resistance resulting from the |
| for strong jumping. The coordination required in the | | | | quality of your press up from your demi plie, and also a |
| exercise is needed for the grands sautes such as | | | | resistance you create, pressing your extending leg out |
| grand jete en tournant, fouette saute and all the many | | | | to its stretch? (It's like you are using an invisible |
| other jumps found in the solos of classical ballet. | | | | stretchy band tied to your ankles). |
| Battement fondu develops the quadriceps, or thigh | | | | ***Are your foot muscles working and engaged |
| muscles. It's beautifully elastic stretch up from the demi | | | | throughout the whole movement, both up and down, |
| plie, to a full rise onto demi pointe and full leg extension, | | | | strengthening the foot and ankle without over-working |
| is a challenge for all the basic technical areas. As a | | | | your calf muscles? |
| habit, check for the points below during your battement | | | | ***Are your arm movements also coordinated, without |
| fondu exercises: | | | | strain? |
| ***Are you on balance in your demi plie - can you lift | | | | ***Can you do battement fondu without the barre, en |
| your hand off the barre just before you reach the | | | | croix, at a 45 degree height? |
| bottom of the plie, and keep it off as you press out of | | | | Aside from being a whole body workout, the building |
| it? | | | | of strength for your pointe work and jumps is |
| ***Does your presenting leg fully extend at the same | | | | accelerated with this exercise. Keep at the finer details |
| moment your supporting leg reaches its fullest demi | | | | in your daily routines and you'll have a perfect pointe - |
| pointe? Can you lift your hand off the barre right here? | | | | and wonderful jumps too. |