Tendu is one of the most important and fundamental steps of ballet. It is a movement in which the dancer extends one leg out to the side or front while keeping the other foot on the ground. It is important for dancers to master this step as it will help them to be able to create more intricate and beautiful movements during performances.
Tendu is usually done from a position that is known as fifth position, which involves having one foot placed in front of the other with toes pointed outward. The dancer will then extend their leg out in either a side or forward direction, depending on what step they are about to perform. As they extend their leg, they will keep their feet parallel and flat on the floor.
When performing tendu, it is important for dancers to focus on their turnout, which means that the hips should face outward instead of inward. It is also important that dancers keep their toes pointed and knees straight so that they are able to make sure that they are reaching as far as possible while keeping control over their movements.
As dancers progress in their studies, they may start doing tendu en croix, which involves doing tendus while alternating between both sides and turning out each side. This helps strengthen the dancer’s muscles and increases control over balance and coordination during performance.
Tendu can also be done with different arm positions depending on what type of movement a dancer wants to create. For example, if a dancer wants to look graceful and balletic during performance, then they might do tendu with arms held up in second position or above their head in third position. If they want to appear more powerful or aggressive then they could do tendu with arms held down at their sides in first position or folded across their chest in fourth position.
Overall, tendu is an essential step for any ballet dancer as it helps them improve upon posture, balance, strength and control over movements during performances. With practice and dedication any aspiring ballerina can master this beautiful step!
Conclusion: What Is Tendu In Ballet? Tendu is an essential step for any ballet dancer where one leg extends outward while keeping the other foot grounded with toes pointed outward from fifth position.
It requires focus on turnout of hips with straight knees and toes pointed throughout so dancers can maximize reach while maintaining control over movements during performances. Dancers may also alternate between sides for en croix variations along with different arm positions for different effects during performance like gracefulness or power/aggression