The ballet rond de jambe is a dance that requires a strong core, long legs, and a neutral pelvis. This dance also calls for a strong and flexible foot that does not grip the floor. To learn how to perform a ballet rond de jambe, follow the tips outlined below.
A typical rond de jambe en l’air involves a point foot moving from the fourth position to the opposite fourth, then returning to the first position to repeat the movement. It is commonly performed in singles. Students should also know that the rond de jambe is not the same as the can-can, which involves high knee kicks in the air.
There are a few variations of the rond de jambe. Some teachers teach the open rond de jambe, while others teach the half-tendu front/half-tendu-back variation. The correct technique involves keeping the toes of the working foot lined up with the heels and arch.
The fouette turns are known as fouettes and are often performed by ballet dancers on pointe or demi-pointe. The supporting leg is positioned in plie, while the working leg is placed in a demi-pointe position. The working leg then whips outward to the side as the supporting knee is in a retire. The entire leg motion is repeated several times for the next rotation.
Another variation of the rond de jambe involves a port de bras. This is a very quick dance that is performed by the dancers.