17 replies to this topic

[Ballet Bunnie]

Thanks, Ms. Leigh! But I am still confused about petit battement en avant/en arrière -- isn't that only hitting one place on the ankle as well?

[Hans]

To be really technical, petit battement is not a traveling step, and therefore it cannot be done en avant/arriere. The foot beats (for example) cou de pied devant, then the lower leg opens slightly, and the foot beats cou de pied derriere, opens slightly and continues front again, etc.. It can also be done from the wrapped position to the front or back. It is often done with a stronger accent on one of the positions, and that is often what one means when one says "petit battement front" (or back) vs. battement serre, which is usually a continuous movement, without an accent.

[Ballet Bunnie]

Thank you, Hans!