How to Do a Grand Plié

From The Ballet Coach · 2020

How to Do a Grand Plié
3 min1st2nd3rd4th5thDance
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Summary

Sarah teaches the key principles of a grand plié -- a deep, controlled bend of the knees that is one of the most-used movements in all of ballet. She breaks down how to keep the movement smooth and safe, so it builds the strength and control the rest of class depends on.

Viewer safety

All ages

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Teaching resources

Discussion questions

Talk about it

  1. What parts of your body do you have to control to keep a plié smooth?
  2. Why should you go down and come back up slowly instead of dropping?
  3. Where else in class might you use a plié?

Quick work-a-long

Words to know: plié (bend), grand (big), turnout, heels.

Try it: In first position, do three slow grand pliés with the video, keeping your back tall the whole time.