Tendus

A tendu, derived from the French word meaning "stretched," is a foundational movement in classical ballet. It serves as a primary exercise at the barre and is integrated into center work to develop a dancer's technique, precision, and limb placement.

The movement involves sliding the working foot along the floor, extending the leg from a closed position to a fully stretched, pointed foot. The heel leads the movement outward, and when the foot is fully extended, only the toes remain in contact with the floor. The leg remains straight at the knee. The working foot then returns to the starting position by reversing the motion, with the toes leading back. A crucial aspect of a correct tendu is maintaining turnout from the hip joint throughout the entire action.

Tendus are practiced to the front, side, and back, training the dancer to move gracefully and cleanly in all directions. This exercise strengthens the feet and ankles, promotes proper alignment, and cultivates an awareness of the floor. It is considered a fundamental building block for more complex steps, as it teaches the basic action of the foot leaving and returning to the floor, which is essential for jumps and traveling movements. The quality of a dancer's tendu is often seen as an indicator of their overall technical proficiency.