Frappé and battement differ in what way?

• A. Frappé is a full leg extension; battement is a brush.
• B. Frappé is performed on pointe; battement on demi-pointe.
• C. Frappé is a quick brush of the foot off the floor to a pointed toe; battement is a full leg extension from one position to another.
• D. Frappé involves a turn; battement does not.

Answer: (C)

Frappé and battement differ by how the leg moves off the floor. Frappé is a quick brush of the foot along the floor to a pointed toe, an ankle-level action that keeps the leg close to the ground. Battement, on the other hand, involves a full leg extension from one position to another, moving the thigh and knee through space to reach a extended line. This makes frappé useful for sharpening the brush and preparing for more expansive movements, while battement builds clean, controlled extension over a larger range. The other descriptions mix up where the movement originates or the height and purpose of the movement, so they don’t capture the essential distinction.