Rond de jambe on the ground. An exercise at the
bar or in the centre in which one leg is made to describe a series of circular
movements on the ground. Both legs must be kept perfectly straight and all
movement must come from the hip, along with the arching and relaxing of the
instep. The toe of the working foot does not rise off the ground and does not
pass beyond the fourth position front (fourth position ouvert) or the fourth
position back. This is an exercise to turn the legs out from the hips, to loosen
the hips and to keep the toe well back and heel forward. There are two kinds of
ronds de jambe à terre: those done en dedans (inward) and those done en dehors
(outward).
