In ballet, rond de jambe a terre is a basic movement that is used in almost every variation of the art form. It is a movement that is often done as an exercise to help warm up the dancer before performing more complex steps.
The term comes from the French phrase meaning “round of the leg on the ground” and it’s a very basic step that can be incorporated into various combinations.
Rond de jambe a terre involves one leg being raised up in the air and then sweeping around in an arc-like motion before touching down on the floor. The body should remain upright throughout, with the dancer’s weight centered on the standing leg.
As the raised leg moves around, it should remain slightly bent and pointed outwards in order to maintain balance.
This movement helps to develop strength and flexibility in both legs, as well as coordination between them. Additionally, it helps to improve posture and alignments while dancing. It can be done either traveling forward or backward, depending on what is required of the choreography.
Rond de jambe a terre is often used as part of other steps, such as grand plié or battement tendu.
While it may seem simple at first glance, proper execution requires concentration and control from both legs in order to achieve a smooth transition from one step to another without interruption.
Conclusion:
In summary, rond de jambe a terre is an important movement for all ballet dancers to master and understand. It requires strength, flexibility and control in order for it to be properly executed within various combinations and steps. By using this basic step correctly, dancers will be able to develop their technique further and perform more difficult movements with greater ease.