Battements are which type of movement?

• A. Jumps
• B. Beatings
• C. Turns
• D. Slides

Answer: (B)

Battements describe the beating action of the leg. In this movement, the working leg is extended and then snapped back with a sharp, controlled beat, often traveling through the air or striking against the floor in a precise, crisp way. It’s about the leg’s motion and the rhythm of the beat, not about lifting off the floor (jumps), rotating the body (turns), or gliding from one place to another (slides). In Cecchetti practice, battements train turnout, alignment, and clean, deliberate leg work, with many variations like frappé or grand battement focusing on this exact beating action.