Battement Fondu

A battement fondu is a slow, melting movement built around the idea of fondu, which means to melt. It is a foundational barre exercise that teaches control, coordination, and the smooth strength dancers need for soft jumps and sustained lines. Rather than a sharp beating action, fondu is about two legs bending and stretching together in one continuous, flowing motion.

How the movement works

The step begins with the working foot pointed at the ankle, at cou-de-pied, while the supporting leg slowly bends into a fondu. From this deep, cushioned plié, both legs stretch at the same time: the supporting leg straightens as the working leg extends outward to a fully pointed position, often to the front, side, or back. The extension can finish on the floor at tendu height or lifted into the air. The magic of the exercise is the simultaneous action, so both legs arrive straight together in a single smooth breath of movement.

Why it matters for technique

Battement fondu is sometimes described as a plié on one leg, and that comparison explains why it is so valuable. It strengthens the supporting ankle and thigh while training the dancer to control descent and rise. This is exactly the quality needed for landing jumps softly and for cushioning allégro. As dancers advance, fondu is performed on relevé, which greatly increases the challenge to balance and calf strength, and it may be combined with a rise onto demi-pointe as the leg extends.

Tips for smooth fondus

Avoid dropping into the bend too quickly or snapping the extension. The goal is even, unhurried motion where you can barely see where the bend ends and the stretch begins. Keep your hips level and square, resist letting the supporting knee roll inward, and think of the working foot brushing gently through the air. A controlled fondu will make everything you dance afterward look softer and more finished.