The Italian fouette is the balance where three half-toed forms are used as a minimum. They can be similar or different. A gymnast moves on to heels and turns 90, 180 or 270 degrees in between, which resembles a classic fouette cycle but to the reverse side.
Grand fouette en tournant en dedans (this is exactly how professionals call the Italian fouette) is a fouette variety in the Italian school of ballet. It starts with the cou-de-pied and plie, followed by a sideward leg throw and then — a turn with leg moving along the floor to the next position.
The Italian fouette is very popular in rhythmic gymnastics. It gives the freedom of choosing forms and thereby the opportunity of turning an element into the original one. Balances can be performed in it using hands and without them, with leg raising to a horizontal or to a full split. What’s special about this element is that the gymnast is required to perform at least two different actions with an object during three forms.
The key point is to show each form clearly, with a focus, and to work with the apparatus in it. If a gymnast loses balance or continues rotating in one of forms, such balance will not be credited. Selected forms also should not be repeated and performed in the exercise in isolation, as an independent balance.
Many participants in Sky Grace and Games of Countries tournaments insert the Italian fouette in their exercises. Specifically, Russia’s Mariia Borisova performs two side splits without hands and the attitude, Szofia Bernat from Hungary makes side and front splits without hands and passe, and Cuba’s Gretel Mendoza — two side splits and passe.