Basic Principles of Classical Ballet by Agrippina Vaganova Read Free Book Online

that, the entire force of the movement, in returning to the 5th position, should be directed toward carrying forward the carefully turned-out heel. The toe is forcefully pressed back. Only through the most careful turning-out of the entire leg, from the upper part to the lower, can zig-zags be avoided. They are inevitable when the position of the leg is wrong.
    When the movement is to the side, the foot returns to the 5th position, alternately front and back. In carrying the foot back, the knee and the upper part of the leg should be kept up, so that the knee is turned out fully and does not bend. The battement back is done with the foot which is at the back in the 5th position.

    BATTEMENTS TENDUS JETÉS
    Battements tendus jetés are the same as battements tendus simples, and are done from 5th position; after gliding along the floor, the leg is thrust out at 45° to the front, side or back. The accent is on the close in 5th position. The upper part of the leg, the hip, should not be raised too high.
    The foot does not stop at the extreme point, but passes through the 5th position and continues the movement. The French name of this battement— jeté (thrown)—explains the character of the movement.
    This battement is of great educational importance, and it must be executed very precisely, observing the following rules:
    During the forward movement, each time when the foot passes through the 5th position, the toe must touch the heel of the other foot.
    The movement to the side should be approached with particular attention. The working leg must be turned out exceptionally well, as this plays the decisive part in the movement. In addition to that, the foot should not miss that point in the 2nd position, which the toe hits every time it is thrown, whether it passes the 5th position in front or in the back. The directions given for battements tendus simples should be observed.
    In the movement to the back the upper part of the leg is again carefully kept up in a turned out position. The foot should move in such a manner that it is not seen from the front, and the knee does not bend. The pupil usually bends the knee voluntarily, to ease a difficult movement. In bringing the foot into the 5th position, the toe must in all cases hit the floor.
    I consider it necessary to stress again the importance of the position of the upper part of the leg. The leg must be taken away to the back, the knee must not be dropped in and must be fully turned out. One must feel one’s leg as a taut cord.
    Battements tendus jetés should be taught after battements tendus simples are executed by the students with full perfection, and their legs are strengthened, and they can use them freely, without any strain.

    BATTEMENTS TENDUS POUR BATTERIE
    These battements are preparatory movements for beats, especially for men. The masculine build permits the execution of beats in a slightly different manner—with the upper part of the leg. A woman usually does beats with the calf of her leg, although she should try to do it the masculine way. But the build of a woman is different, the form of her hips and legs differs from those of a man, and they produce a different way of doing beats.
    In class, these battements acquire the following form:
    From the 5th position, the right foot opens into the 2nd, then the right calf beats the left leg in the front, is transferred back (without opening in the 2nd position) and from there opens into the 2nd position. At the moment of hitting the calf at the back, the right heel almost touches the floor.
    Both legs must be extended energetically. One must feel that the beat is done with the calf forward, and the leg rebounds strongly, like a spring. Because of the extension of the leg in this manner, it cannot go farther than the 3rd position on its return. The leg never loses its position, i.e. it is fully turned out.
    The movement is repeated, hitting first back and then front and opening in the 2nd position. The number of