What You'll Learn
- How to navigate the demi-pointe transition without sickling the ankle
- The correct timing for pinky toe contact when closing from derrière
- Using the knuckle and big toe toenail to guide foot placement
- Drills to improve foot articulation and technical precision
About This Video
Mastering the tendu is fundamental to all ballet movements, but the transition from a full extension back to a closed position—especially when moving to the back (derrière)—presents unique challenges for students of all levels. In this Quicktip from Broche Ballet, we dive into the specific nuances of the closing tendu back to help you maintain a beautiful, unsickled line and build stronger feet. One of the most frequent errors dancers make is allowing the ankle to sickle by letting the pinky toe lift off the floor too soon or, conversely, letting it drag unevenly.
This not only disrupts the visual line but can also lead to instability in more complex movements like pirouettes or jumps. To correct this, you must focus intently on the path of the foot as it returns to first or fifth position. As you begin to close from a fully pointed position, you must transition smoothly through the demi-pointe.
This involves coming onto the side of the knuckle, specifically over the top of the big toe’s toenail, ensuring the weight is distributed correctly to prevent the heel from dropping prematurely. The key to a professional finish is finding the exact moment when the pinky toe makes contact with the floor. You want to avoid coming in on the side of the foot where the pinky toe is 'floating' in the air, which often indicates a lack of turnout or engagement in the lower leg.
Instead, look for that sweet spot where your ankle remains stable and straight, but your pinky toe is positioned and ready to meet the ground. Once that contact is established, you 'scrub' the pinky toe the rest of the way in, pushing through the demi-pointe at precisely the right time to return to a flat foot. By focusing on these micro-movements, you protect your ankles from injury and improve the overall aesthetic of your footwork.
This technical refinement ensures that every tendu you perform contributes to the strength and grace required for advanced ballet. Join us at Broche Ballet as we break down these essential movements to help you dance with more confidence.
