A battement is a fundamental ballet movement in which the working leg beats, brushes or lifts away from the supporting leg. The word comes from the French battre, meaning to beat. Battements appear throughout every level of RAD and ISTD training and are a core part of the barre work that begins every ballet class.
Short answer: A battement is a ballet movement where the working leg sweeps, lifts or beats away from the standing leg. There are several types — including grand battement, battement tendu and battement dégagé — each training different aspects of leg strength, turnout and footwork.
Types of battement in ballet
Battement tendu
In a battement tendu (French: stretched beat), the working foot slides along the floor away from the supporting leg, extending fully until only the tips of the toes remain in contact with the floor. The leg returns to first or fifth position the same way. Tendus train foot articulation, the pointed position, and the connection between the leg and the floor. They appear at barre from the very first levels of RAD and ISTD training.
Battement dégagé (jeté)
A dégagé (also called battement jeté in some syllabi) begins like a tendu but the working foot leaves the floor entirely, lifting to approximately 20–25 degrees. The foot brushes through the tendu position before and after it leaves the floor. Dégagés are faster than tendus and develop the quick, light footwork needed for allegro work.
Grand battement
In a grand battement (large beat), the working leg lifts as high as possible — ideally 90 degrees or above — while the supporting leg remains fully extended and turned out. The leg is thrown upward with energy and then controlled on the way down. Grand battements develop the range of movement, strength and control needed for arabesques, développés and grand allegro jumps.
Battement frappé
In a frappé (struck beat), the working foot starts in a wrapped position at the ankle and strikes sharply to a pointe position low off the floor. Frappés develop the sharp, quick leg action used in pas de chat, assemblé and other allegro steps.
Battement fondu
In a fondu (melting beat), both legs bend and extend simultaneously — the supporting leg bends (fondu) as the working leg extends to the floor or into the air, then both straighten together. Fondus develop the smooth, continuous leg action used in adagio and port de bras movements.
Petit battement
A petit battement (small beat) is a quick, small movement in which the lower working leg beats alternately in front of and behind the supporting ankle. It develops the rapid, light leg action used in batterie (beaten steps) and pointe work.
Why battements matter in ballet training
Battements are the primary way ballet training develops the working leg. Each type targets a specific quality:
- Tendus — foot articulation, pointed position, placement
- Dégagés — speed, quickness off the floor
- Grand battements — flexibility, range, strength
- Frappés — sharp attack, quick leg action
- Fondus — smooth coordination, adagio quality
- Petits battements — precision, lightness, batterie preparation
Every centre exercise, jump and turn has its roots in the battement exercises practised at the barre. A student whose tendus and dégagés are well placed will find their pirouettes, grand allegro and pointe work easier to develop.
How battements are used at the barre
A standard ballet barre begins with pliés, then moves through battements in roughly the order of complexity: tendus, dégagés, ronds de jambe, fondus, frappés, petits battements, grands battements. This order is not arbitrary — it warms the foot and leg progressively, preparing the joints and muscles for the greater range and speed required later in the sequence.
Battement in RAD examinations
In RAD syllabi, battements appear from Pre-Primary through Advanced levels. At early grades, the focus is on the action of the foot and the basic shape. At higher grades, the speed, height and coordination of the battements with port de bras and épaulement become the main focus of assessment.
Frequently asked questions
What does battement mean in ballet?
Battement comes from the French word for beat or beating. It refers to a family of movements where the working leg beats, brushes or lifts away from the supporting leg. There are many types of battement — including tendu, dégagé, frappé, fondu, petit battement and grand battement — each with a different quality and purpose in training.
What is the difference between battement tendu and battement dégagé?
In a battement tendu, the working foot slides fully extended along the floor without leaving it. In a battement dégagé (or jeté), the working foot lifts just off the floor — approximately 20–25 degrees — before returning. Both share the same sliding action through the foot, but the dégagé adds a small lift at the end, making it faster and lighter than the tendu.
What is a grand battement?
A grand battement is a large, sweeping leg lift where the working leg is thrown upward as high as possible (ideally to 90 degrees or higher) while the supporting leg remains straight and turned out. The leg is then controlled on the way down. Grand battements appear at the end of the barre sequence and develop the range and strength needed for arabesques, développés and grand allegro.
How do you improve battement tendu?
Focus on three things: fully articulating the foot as it slides (heel, ball, toe in sequence), maintaining the turnout of the working leg throughout the movement, and keeping the supporting hip stable. Common mistakes include sickling the foot during the extension, losing turnout as the leg reaches the side or back, and gripping in the hip flexors. Slow, careful tendus with a teacher’s feedback are more effective than many quick, imprecise ones.
What level do battements appear in RAD ballet?
Battement tendus appear from RAD Pre-Primary level. Dégagés, fondus and frappés are introduced progressively through Grades 1–3. Grand battements and petits battements appear from Grade 4 onward. Each level builds on the previous one, adding more complex coordination, épaulement and port de bras.