Expert: Dianne M. Buxton - 11/28/2009

Question
Hi !
I really want to know the technique of " grand rond de jambe a terre jete" ( the movement done during the barre in combination with rond de jambe a terre), how should it be and how should it be done??
And how should an attitude be done?
Thanks in advance!
Bye.

Answer
Hi Liz. I will describe this movement to you, tho in text it may be awkward to picture. Here goes:

- right leg is in tendu derriere - it brushes through first ending in a low attitude devant, and is thrown (jete) straight up to a la seconde and descends in a ronde to the tendu derriere. The brush is quick and done with pressure and the foot stops abruptly, then the leg is thrown up quickly.

The challenge is to keep the supporting leg turned out and the supporting hip over the supporting foot.

Reversed, the foot brushes back from tendu devant to a petit attitude, is thrown straight up to the side and descends with a ronde to tendu devant.

The ballet position attitude is taught slightly differently from R.A.D. to Cecchetti to Vaganova. I suggest you look at the book Classical Ballet Technique by Gretchen Ward Warren where you can see photos of many ballet positions in the differing ballet styles. It is most likely in your local librabry and is a wealth of information.

All the best, Dianne