Grand Battement Step by Step
The Grand Battement is a dynamic and full-of-energy ballet movement. It involves raising one leg in front, to the side or back while maintaining balance on the supporting leg. Grand Battements are a key element in ballet technique and are used in many choreographies to show the strength and flexibility of the dancers. Here is a step-by-step guide to performing Grand Battements correctly.
What is the meaning of Battement?
Battement means “hit, shake or highlight.” There are different types of Battement. All of them consist of several repetitive movements, raising and closing one leg. In other words, opening and closing one of the legs. They usually start facing the bar in the first position. And later they are done in the centre.
Some of the types of Battement are Tendu, dégage, jeté, frappe petite battement, grand battement, etc. The word “Battement” is usually associated with the Grand Battement, referring to the rest of the modalities by their second name, for example, the Tendu. Although its full name is Battement Tendu, we often call it Tendu.
What is a Grand Battement?
The Great Battement consists of raising one leg with force and returning to the starting position. The movement begins and ends like a Tendu. The practice starts in the first or in the fifth position. You can do the Grand Battement in croix or cross, forward, to the side and behind.
How to do a Grand Battement
Grand Battement is performed the same as the battement tendu, but the leg continues the movement until the fourth position front, pointe tendue. From there, the leg lifts to 90 degrees. You should perform the whole in one sweeping movement.
Devant (forward)
- Place your feet in the fifth position, with your right foot front. Your left hand on the bar and right arm in the preparatory position, slightly rounded.
- Move your right arm to the fourth position an avant and open it to the second position.
- Sweep your right foot to the fourth position front and raise it gradually until it is at 90 degrees.
- Lower your foot to the fourth position front, pointe tendu
- Return your foot to the fifth position front.
A la Seconde (side)
- Your foot is in the fifth position and the right foot front. Your left hand on the bar and right arm in the preparatory position, slightly rounded.
- Move the right arm to the fourth position an avant and open it to the second position.
- Maintain your right arm extended and both knees straight. Move the foot to the second position.
- Then, with your foot in pointe tendue, raise the leg sideways until it is at right angles to the hip.
- Finally, lower your foot in pointe tendue to the second position and return to the fifth position front.
The second time you do this movement, move your foot from the fifth position front to the second position. Then, lift your leg, lower it to the second position, and finally move it to the fifth position back. The third time, your foot starts the battement from the fifth position back and ends the movement at the fifth position front, and so on, changing each time.
Derriere (behind)
- Place your feet in the fifth position, with your left foot front. Your left hand on the bar and right arm in the preparatory position, slightly rounded.
- Move your right arm to the fourth position an avant and open it to the second position.
- Sweep your right foot to the fourth position back and raise it gradually until it is at 90 degrees.
- Lower your foot to the fourth position back, pointe tendu
- Return your foot to the fifth position back.
Tips to do Grand Battement perfectly
First, you must maintain the en dehors (external rotation of the legs) in both legs. Remember that the en dehors work requires time, so you do not have to force it!
On the other hand, it is key not to force the height of the leg. This could cause the correct position of the movement to be neglected, for example, bending the supporting leg or losing control of the hip. If you are performing the movement on the bar, there may be a temptation to shift the weight to the bar arm to compensate for the height. Practice the movement repeatedly, alternating legs and varying the direction and height. We recommend to work on technique and precision rather than height or speed.
Besides, the knees of both legs and the tip of the raised foot remain extended to the utmost. Also, you must keep your arm correctly positioned without tension, your torso straight, and let your legs carry out the movement independently.
The action of a grand battement is a throw of the leg rather than a lifting of the leg. This movement is swift, but you should control the lowering. So, you’ll find that the more you use the floor, the lighter the leg will be. Do it fast on the out and then control it on the in.
Finally, this movement goes through the tendu before it extends and lifts into the air. It´s really important to stabilise the pelvis and the standing leg controlling the pelvis. So there´s never any torsion; the hip always has to stay back against the leg that you´re working. And the driving energy down the standing leg is solid so that it tries not to buckle.
So remember we´re throwing the leg rather than lifting, and we can use the floor to help us with that.
