plié
Balletic knee bend
A plié is a ballet movement in which the dancer bends the knees while keeping the back straight and feet turned outward.
It's one of the most fundamental exercises in classical dance, used to warm up and build leg strength.
The word is French for "bent": The class began with pliés at the barre.
Rising onto ball-of-foot
- tenduExtended leg position
- fonduMelted, in French
- battementBallet leg-beating movement
- arabesqueFlowing ornamental design
turnout · alignment · posture · barre · adagio · allegro · positions · first position
Leg joints with caps
- thighsUpper leg sections
- quadricepsFour-part thigh muscle
- hamstringsRear thigh muscles
- calvesRear shin muscles
ankles · hips · turnout · alignment · engagement · core · glutes · inner thighs
Curve or flex
- supplenessCapacity to bend easily
- mobilityCapacity for movement
- limberBending without resistance
- stretchPull to extend
elasticity · resilience · range of motion · yielding · articulation
Effortless beauty of motion
- fluidityState of flowing freely
- poiseGraceful, unshakable calm
- controlAuthority to direct
- smoothnessFreedom from irregularity
elegance · softness · ease · breath · musicality · expression · lightness · depth
Developing abilities through practice
- practiceRepeated work toward mastery
- routineRegular sequence of actions
- rehearsalPre-performance practice session
- dedicationWholehearted loyalty to purpose
repetition · consistency · precision · focus · coach · ballet master · class · warm-up
relevé
Rising onto ball-of-foot
arabesque · turnout · alignment · posture · barre · adagio · allegro · positions · first position · second position
knees
Leg joints with caps
- thighsUpper leg sections
- quadricepsFour-part thigh muscle
- hamstringsRear thigh muscles
calves · ankles · hips · turnout · alignment · engagement · core · glutes · inner thighs · pelvis
bend
Curve or flex
- supplenessCapacity to bend easily
- mobilityCapacity for movement
- limberBending without resistance
stretch · elasticity · resilience · range of motion · yielding · articulation
grace
Effortless beauty of motion
smoothness · elegance · softness · ease · breath · musicality · expression · lightness · depth · groundedness
training
Developing abilities through practice
- practiceRepeated work toward mastery
- routineRegular sequence of actions
- rehearsalPre-performance practice session
dedication · repetition · consistency · precision · focus · coach · ballet master · class · warm-up · conditioning
- balletballet, ballerina, ballet dancer, ballet shoes, tutus
- dance stepsbasic step, side step, back step, forward step, cross step
- ballet movespirouettes, relevé, tendu, dégagé, frappé
- dance fitnessZumba, Jazzercise, dance cardio, step aerobics, aerobics
- footworkpivot turn, sidestep, shuffle, slide, crossover
duplicate, application, simplicity, pliable, compliance, pliant, complicated, duplicity, replied