rond de jambe

[ French rawn duh zhahnb ]

noun

, Ballet.

, plural ronds de jambe [r, aw, n, d, uh, , zhahnb].

1. a circular movement of the leg.

Word History and Origins

Origin of rond de jambe¹

From French, dating back to 1820–30; round ¹, jamb ¹

Example Sentences

“He wasn’t going to learn a rond de jambe,” he added, referring to a step in the basic ballet vocabulary.

From New York Times

But as we danced to “No Day but Today,” the “Rent” finale, the ballet terms — passé, coupé, rond de jambe — proliferated and the eight counts came worryingly fast.

From New York Times

It’s also strangely natural when, say, her leg sweeps in an elegant rond de jambe before she collapses in a heap.

From New York Times

“I suggest you keep an eye out for who is giving more. More charming virtuosity. More delicacy. More musically responsive phrasing. Feet with more feel. Arms and backs that are animated by something more than the textbook. Moves rond de jambe with more volume. … More there-ness. Or more not-there-ness — more being lost in the moment.”

From New York Times

Dancers from France's Moulin Rouge set a record for "the most simultaneous demi-grand rond de jambe cancan kicks by a single chorus line in 30 seconds," with 29 kicks.

From Los Angeles Times