Technique Thursday
Welcome to the first week of #TechniqueThursday!
Pretend it’s the beginning of class, because we’re starting with Pliés.
Plié
/plēˈā/
Plié translates to “bent” in French. This is the first ballet step many dancers ever learn, but it takes time to implement the correct technique and use your plié to its fullest. We often don’t even realize we are using our plié because it has become second nature, and even the most experienced dancers have to remember to use technique correctly in a plié. This step is deceptively challenging because it is often described simply as “bending the knees,” however with the wrong technique a plié can be less useful and can even lead to injuries.
Pliés are one of the most important steps in ballet, and likely occur more than any other step in a typical ballet class or performance, especially because they are often combined with other steps. This step facilitates most other movements in ballet and dancers rely on it constantly- from the first exercise at barre to turns, jumps, and transitions between steps. A plié acts as shock absorption and takeoff in small and large jumps when done with correct technique, so awareness of alignment is very important. It’s important to aim to consistently activate rotation from your glute muscles and the tops of your legs to minimize strain on knee joints, ankles, and feet. When done correctly with proper alignment, pliés can prevent injuries and enhance your overall dancing.
This #TechniqueThursday, try checking in on how you’re using your plié. Imagine rotating from the very top of your legs and rotators to utilize your turnout from the correct muscles. Keep your spine in correct alignment and think of lifting the top of your head to the ceiling as you plié to create opposition and length. It’s always nice to take a moment to focus on small details that can get overlooked in bigger steps.
Have a wonderful Technique Thursday!
