How do you protect the knees during grand battement?

• A. Turnout from the hip, keep supporting leg straight, point the toe, and avoid collapsing.
• B. Lock the knees, keep the arms overhead.
• C. Bend the supporting knee deeply and point the toe of the working leg.
• D. Keep legs parallel and feet together.

Answer: (A)

Protecting the knees in grand battement comes from a stable, well-aligned base and a clean line in the working leg. Turnout from the hip keeps the knee tracking safely over the foot, reducing inward or outward strain. The supporting leg should stay straight to provide a solid, stable foundation without collapsing or wobbling, and the working leg should extend with a pointed toe to create a long, controlled line. Keeping the torso tall and the movement steady helps prevent any sudden collapse that could stress the knee.

Choosing a knee that remains locked or bent in the wrong way risks instability and unnecessary stress. Locking the knees is unsafe, bending the supporting knee disrupts alignment and loads the knee differently, and keeping the legs parallel defeats the turnout that protects the knee. Excessively lifting the arms overhead doesn’t address knee safety in this movement.