Grand Battement Basics

Franziska, at Holistic Ballet, has concluded her "Beginner Ballet Basic" series with three wonderful videos talking through the details of grand battement (large kicks to the front, side and back).  There are three separate videos -- one for grant battement devant (to the front), one for grant battement à la seconde (to the side), and one for grant battement derrière (to the back). 

I love her guidance on thinking about the leg moving in a circular motion, and stretching away from the body, creating space in the hip to accommodate the large motion of the grand battement.  This is a good tip for making your leg move more freely and with seemingly less effort.  I also like to envision the energy of the battement originating from my core, then exploding down my leg, and shooting off into space, as my leg moves outward and upward; this makes the battement feel much less like a heavy dead-lift, and more like a fluid, flowing motion.

These are good videos for those just starting ballet.  Intermediate and advance dancers can benefit from her tips and reminders too; it's always useful to go back to basics.  Check them out, as well as the many other helpful videos found on her YouTube channel.