What are 'Petits battements sur le cou-de-pied'?

• A. Small beatings on the neck of the foot
• B. Large beats on the toes
• C. Quick steps on the shin
• D. Beats on the knee

Answer: (A)

Petits battements sur le cou-de-pied describe small, quick beating movements of the foot while the working foot rests on the neck of the foot—the area around the ankle where the foot sits against the leg. In this position, the dancer keeps the leg turned out and the foot placed along the shin, and then makes tiny, light beats with that foot. This is a control-building exercise that trains precise placement, ankle strength, and the ability to hold the leg steady while the foot moves very slightly. So the correct understanding is: small beatings on the neck of the foot, not large beats on the toes, quick steps on the shin, or beats on the knee.