10/11/2026
Ballet Term of the Week 🩰
Plié - from French, meaning “bent” or “bending.”
A plié in classical ballet is a bending of the knees while maintaining turnout and alignment of the legs and feet. It’s one of the first movements dancers learn… and one they use throughout their entire ballet training.
But plié is much more than bending your knees! From a biomechanics perspective, plié helps dancers control their center of mass, coordinate movement through the hips, knees, and ankles, and prepare for actions like jumping and turning. It also plays an important role in absorbing forces when landing from a jump.
A good plié isn’t just about how deeply you bend. It’s about how you control the movement while maintaining alignment and distributing force through your legs and feet.
Think of plié as both a preparation for movement and a way to manage its impact.
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