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Fondu
[fawn-DEW]
Sinking down. A term used to describe a lowering of the body made by
bending the knee of the supporting leg. Saint-Leon wrote, "Fondu
is on one leg what a plié is on two
Fouetté rond de jambe en tournant
[fweh-TAY rawn duh zhahnb ahn toor-NAHN]
Whipped circle of the leg turning. This is the popular turn in which
the dancer executes a series of turns on the supporting leg while being
propelled by a whipping movement of the working leg. The whipping leg
should be at hip level, with the foot closing in to the knee of the supporting
leg. Fouettés are usually done in a series.
French School
The French School of ballet began in the court ceremonies of the French
monarchs. Louis XIV studied with the famous ballet master Pierre Beauchamp
and established the first academy of dancing, known as the Académie
Royale de Musique et de Danse, in Paris in 1661. The École de
Danse de l'Opéra was founded in 1713 and is now known as the École
de Danse du Théâtre National de l'Opéra. Among its
most famous ballet masters were Beauchamp, Pécour, Lany, Noverre,
G. and A. Vestris, M. and P. Gardel, F. Taglioni, Mazilier, Saint-Léon,
Mérante, Staats, Aveline and Lifar. The French School was known
for its elegance and soft, graceful movements rather than technical virtuosity.
Its influence spread throughout Europe and is the basis of all ballet
training.
First position (Première position):
In this position the feet form one line, heels touching one another.
Fourth position (Quatrième position):
In the fourth position the placement of the feet is similar to that in
the third position, the feet being parallel and separated by the strength
of one foot. This is the classical fourth position but it may also be
done with the feet in the first position, only separated by the space
of one foot. The former is known as quatrième position croisée
(crossed fourth position), while the latter is called quatrième
position ouverte (open fourth position). Today quatrième position
croisée is done with the feet placed as in the fifth position,
parallel and separated by the length of one foot, instead of the third
position.
Fifth position (Cinquième position):
In the fifth position, Cecchetti method, the feet are crossed so that
the first joint of the big toe shows beyond either heel. In the French
and Russian Schools the feet are completely crossed so that the heel
of the front foot touches the toe of the back foot and vice versa. |