Ronde de Jambe - The Big D

THE TECHNICAL STUFF

Rond de jambe (/ˌrän də ˈZHämb/), officially "round" or "circle of the leg", connects the "dots" of tendu front, side, and back (or back, side, and front). Keeping the knee straight, the leg slides to tendu front, then to side, then to back, and then returns to first (or fifth) position. This rond de jambe (front to back) is called "en dehors" (rhymes with "open the door"). Rond de jambe back to front is called "en dedans" (rhymes with "John"). There are three kinds of rond de jambe:

• À terre (on the ground or - officially "down") - the tip of the working leg touches the ground as the leg circles in a semi-circular movement
• En l'air (in the air) - the leg is lifted to the side to either dégagé height or 90 degrees (hip height) and a small, oblong circle is made with the lower leg (not moving the leg from the knee to the hip). 
• Grand rond de jambe en l'air ("great round leg in the air") - the working leg is extended as far as possible from the ground and moved in a semi-circular pattern, either front to back or back to front

WHY WE DO IT

Rond de jambe begins the transition at the barre from linear movement to more fluid, larger movement. Rond de jambe is also an effective way to gain momentum before a large jump or turn. Physiologically, this movement acts to loosen the hip socket and to transition at the barre from movements that require less flexibility to movements that require more.


HOW TO DO IT BETTER

• When executing rond de jambe, imagine your toe drawing the shape of a capital "D" on the floor below you with the tip of your toes. The point of the imaginary letter should be either directly in front of the heel of your other foot (American - Balanchine) or directly in front of where your toe was in first position (Russian - Vaganova). EITHER WAY, the inclination is to round out the corners of your "D" and make the circle of the leg smaller. DON'T do that! Keep your D intact!

• PREVENT INJURY!! Make sure to get your heel down on the ground when passing through first position (consecutive ronds de jambe - see that cool pluralization? - always pass through first position). Your achilles tendons will thank you when you're over 30. 

• Rond de jambe should feel expansive, grand, and regal. Whatever that means to you, it's probably right. The end. 

Photo: John Manning

Dancers (L-R): Sydney McPherson, Giana Forgione, Hannah Russell