Plie and Releve

The next lesson will be on Plies (Plee- A's) and Releves (Rel-uh-vey's). Plie is the bending of the knees in any of the five positions we talked about in the last post, and continuing all the way till you are in a very low squat. Demi plie is half bending of the knees, with your heels still on the floor. Grand plie is the full bending of the knees, all the way to the ground. When doing all of this the rest of your body has to maintain the correct form as well. Your back needs to remain straight as if your sliding down a wall. Your lower back and butt needs to stay tucked under as if you have a string attached to your pelvic bones and they are getting pulled forward.

Next is a Releve which is the rising/ spring movement to pointe or demi-pointe in any of the five positions we talked about in the previous post. To do this you will first go into demi- plie and then rise up into susu releve and hold your arms in fifth position. You will hold this for about ten seconds to grasp the exercise which is balance. Balance is one of the key components in dance, it is needed through every movement you do. Engaging your core is a necessity through this exercise.

  

  *This is on pointe but you do the same in regular ballet shoes