Basic Principles of Classical Ballet (29 page)

6.
Petits battements.
Eight bars of

Dégagé
to 2nd position and place foot pointed
sur le cou-de-pied devant
before the music.

1st and 2nd bars—Six
petits battements,
⅛ beat each, then on the seventh ⅛ beat quickly change to the other foot with a turn
en dehors
and on the eighth ⅛ beat pause.

3rd and 4th bars—Continue the exercise on the other foot and return to the original position.

5th, 6th, 7th and 8th bars—Repeat everything with a turn
en dedans
(4 bars).

7.
Battements developpés.
Eight bars of

1st bar—On the first ¼ beat
developpé
forward and on the second ¼ beat bend the leg to the knee. On the fifth ⅛ beat
developpé
back and on the sixth ⅛ beat
demi-plié
on the left leg. Then on the fourth ¼ beat rise to half-toe.

2nd bar—On the first ¼ beat turn on the left leg
en dehors
on half-toe, right foot in front. On the second ¼ beat turn back again on half-toe, right foot in back. On the third ¼ beat the leg slides quickly forward through first position, ending the movement in
demi-plié
on the left foot. This movement is executed like a
battement jeté balancé,
with the body leaning back, and in the second case with the body leaning forward. On the fourth ¼ beat rise to half-toe on the left foot, lifting up the right arm and looking under it.

3rd and 4th bars—The combination of movements to the first and second bars is repeated but in reverse order, bending the leg at the knee for the transition to each new figure.

5th bar—On the first ¼ beat
developpé
to 2nd position, and on the second ¼ beat bend the leg to the knee. On the fifth ⅛ beat open the right leg to 2nd position, and on the sixth ⅛ beat
demi-plié
on the left foot. Then on the fourth ¼ beat rise to half-toe.

6th bar—On the first ¼ beat quickly turn halfway
en dedans
changing feet, and open the other leg to 2nd position. On the second ¼ beat do this again and, on returning to the original position, open the right leg to 2nd position. On the third ¼ beat quickly brush the leg through 1st position and up the back of the leg to 2nd position, left leg in
demi-plié.
Then on the fourth ¼ beat rise to half-toe in
écarté
back.

7th and 8th bars—This combination of movements is repeated starting from the fifth bar in reverse order, i.e., doing the turns en
dehors
and ending
écarté
front.

8.
Grands battements jetés.
Eight bars of

Three
grands battements jetés
front, ⅛ beat each; three
grands battements jetés
side, ⅛ beat each; three
grands battements
jetés back, ⅛ beat each; three
grands battements jetés
side, ⅛ beat each. This combination is repeated during the next four bars. In the advanced and professional classes this exercise is done on half-toe at the barre and in the centre.

EXERCISES IN THE CENTRE

The first two combinations must be executed evenly and softly without the slightest hopping, for they take the place of the 1st adagio in the centre.

1.Sixteen bars of ¾.

Stand 5th position,
demi-plié
and
developpé
front with right leg
effacés
before the music.

4 bars—During the first bar step to high half-toe in 1st arabesque on the right foot.

During the second bar come down to
plié
in the same position.

During the third bar turn on right foot en
dedans
in ist arabesque finishing in
effacé
forward on half-toe of the left foot, changing feet near the end of the turn.

During the fourth bar
plié
in this pose and continue. This should be done four times in a diagonal direction from point 6 to point 2 of our class plan. (see fig. 1, p.11) In the opposite direction it is done from point 4 to point 8.

2. Then this step is done in reverse, proceeding back from point 2 to point 6 and from point 8 to point 4 (also in 16 bars).

Before the music, stand 5th position,
demi-plié
and
developpé
back
effacé
with left foot.

4 bars—During the first bar step onto the left high half-toe opening the right foot to
effacé
forward.

During the second bar come to
plié
in the same pose.

During the third bar turn on right foot
en dehors
finishing in 2nd
arabesque
on high half-toe, changing feet near the end of the turn.

During the fourth bar
plié
in the same pose.

Repeat the same sequence four times to each side.

3.
Battements tendus.
Eight bars of