What is rond de jambe and in what forms is it commonly performed in Grade 2?

• A. A circular movement of the leg; performed à terre and en l'air, in dehors and en dedans.
• B. A straight leg kick; performed only en dehors.
• C. A jump with leg in plie.
• D. A foot stamping exercise.

Answer: (A)

Rond de jambe is a circular movement of the leg around the hip, with the foot pointed and the thigh tracing a smooth half-circle. In Grade 2 this movement is commonly done in two forms: à terre (on the floor) and en l’air (in the air), and in both directions—dehors (outward) and dedans (inward). Practicing these variations, usually at the barre, helps develop turnout, hip control, and clean line from the hip to the toe. The other descriptions describe different actions (a straight-leg kick, a jump with the leg in plié, or a stamping exercise), which don’t capture the circular hip movement that defines rond de jambe.