Deeper Plies

[Elitera]

Is there a way so that you can go lower while doing a plie? Do you do the frog strech or........? I really need to have better plies!!!!

 

Thanks for helping me!

[Mel Johnson]

Hello, Elitera, and welcome to Ballet Talk for Dancers.

 

After you are WELL WARMED UP, like in the break between barre and center, go to the barre and face it, taking a sort of double-wide second position, resting both hands on the barre. Do a demi-plié, taking great care that the knees travel in the same line that the toes are pointing on the floor. No rolling allowed. Come up, then do, in the same extra-w i d e second, a grand plié. Repeat a few times. Four should be plenty.

 

Don't do the frog stretch! Unless you already have 180° rotation, and the feet rest on the floor, you will be putting lateral stress on the knee joint, and that's never a good thing!

[balletbaby14]

I had this problem, with a really small plie. It helps me to think about relaxing the tendons and muscles on the front of my ankles and the top of my foot when i plie.

[Mel Johnson]

Yes, that's called "releasing". You can't get a really good demi-plié in any position if you don't do that.

[Elitera]

Thank you to everyone who answered!!!

I will definitely work on them!!

Thanks for the great advice!!!!