pliés

Knees bend outward

Pliés are a fundamental ballet exercise in which the dancer bends the knees while keeping the back straight and feet turned out.

The movement builds leg strength and appears at the start of most ballet classes: We began with pliés at the barre.

From French *plier*, to bend.

ballet

barre

Fixed studio rail

arabesqueFlowing ornamental design
pirouetteBallet turn on one foot
jetéBallet jumping step

tendu · relevé · battement · adagio · allegro · pas · turnout · positions · choreography · ballerina

physicality

quadriceps

Four-part thigh muscle

thighsUpper leg sections
kneesLeg joints with caps
anklesLower leg joints

calves · glutes · flexibility · strength · suppleness · mobility · extension · elasticity · fluidity · control

training

barre

Fixed studio rail

warm-upPre-activity preparation routine
drillHole-boring device
repetitionAct of redoing

practice · conditioning · strengthening · routine · class · instruction · progression · muscle memory · daily practice · fundamentals

technique

squat

Crouching on bent legs

loweringMoving something downward
alignmentCorrect relative positioning
turnoutNumber attending an event

posture · placement · centering · balance · control · form · execution · depth · rise · descent

Opposites

vertical direction in ballet movement

pliésrises

Moves upward

sautés · jumps · demi-pointe · en pointe · pointe work

movement type in dance

pliésleaps

Short springing motions

tours · turns · pirouettes · allegro · cabrioles

leg action

pliésextensions

Additions that lengthen

straightening · stretches

Phrases

needle-nose pliersTapered-jaw gripping tool
pair of pliersHinged hand tool for gripping
needlenosed pliersTapered-jaw gripping tool
needle nose pliersTool with tapered jaws
needlenose pliersTapered-tip gripping tool
locking pliers

Family

pliers, pliable, compliance, pliant, plied, plies, supplicate, complied, complies

Familiarity: Top 500,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Rated G