How to Perform Fondu in Ballet

Ballet is a type of dance that incorporates graceful movements of the body. There are a lot of different steps and techniques in ballet. Ballet requires smooth movements and balance. Most of the steps in ballet are performed on tiptoe, so it is very important to have a good balance. If you want to learn ballet, there are classes that tutor older students. Usually, ballet is learned at a young age, but more and more adults are encouraged to learn ballet at a later age. Fondu is a movement in ballet done by bending one leg while the other leg is straight and supports the whole body. With the combination of other movements and steps, fondu blends in smoothly to form a graceful dance. Here is how to do the fondu.

• Stand beside the bar. Start with doing the fondu on one side. Stand with your back straight, your body perpendicular to the bar, your arms on your sides and your legs close and feet touching each other. Your position is known as the first position in dancing. Hold the bar with your inside hand, meaning the hand nearest to the bar. Your outside hand is the one away from the bar.
• Bend your outside knee. Bend your outside knee outwards, with your tendu or pointed toes touching the ankle of your inside feet. Your legs will create a sideways triangle with this position. Your foot must be straight so that when the pointed toes rest on the ankle, the palm of the foot is flat on your inside leg.
• Hold your outside arm in second position. Bend your outside arm in front of your body, with the elbow parallel to your bent knee and the palm facing your stomach. This is the second position in dancing.
• Do a plié. In ballet, a plié is a technique where you bend your body to one side.. When your arm is in the second position, slowly bend your torso towards your supporting side.
• Repeat on the other side. When you are done doing the fondu, repeat the steps until you get used to them and try to do the steps in quick succession to make the movement seamless. When you are done on one side, turn around and repeat the process on the other side. Do repetitions until the transition from both sides become smooth.

If you are new to ballet and do not have a good balance when you are on tiptoe, there are bars on walls that you can hold on to. During an actual choreographed ballet performance though, these bars are no longer available. While still learning the basics, you must focus on improving your balance in preparation for onstage performances. When doing ballet or any other type of dance, it is important to do some stretching to avoid any injuries. Proper clothing is also a must. Tights, leotards, skirt and ballet shoes are the essential items of clothing when doing ballet. Never do ballet in sneakers, rubber shoes or barefoot as they make it harder to stand on tiptoe.