Deep pliés

Definition

Deep pliés are a fundamental movement in ballet where the dancer bends their knees deeply while maintaining proper alignment and balance. This technique emphasizes the strength and flexibility of the legs, providing a foundation for various movements and transitions within dance, especially in neoclassical ballet, which often incorporates fluid and extended lines characteristic of this style.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Deep pliés are essential for building strength in the legs and enhancing overall balance, allowing dancers to execute more complex movements with ease.
2. In neoclassical ballet, deep pliés serve as a transition into more intricate choreography, often leading into jumps or turns.
3. George Balanchine, known for his innovative choreography, frequently employed deep pliés to create visually striking lines and fluidity in his works.
4. Deep pliés help dancers develop a deeper connection to the floor, which is crucial for achieving weightiness and groundedness in their movements.
5. This movement is also used in various styles beyond ballet, emphasizing its importance in developing foundational skills across different forms of dance.

Review Questions

• How do deep pliés contribute to a dancer's technique and overall performance?
  • Deep pliés play a critical role in a dancer's technique by building leg strength, improving balance, and enhancing flexibility. They provide a solid foundation for executing other movements such as jumps and turns, allowing for greater control and fluidity in choreography. By mastering deep pliés, dancers can develop their capacity for dynamic movements, ultimately improving their performance quality.
• Discuss how George Balanchine utilized deep pliés in his neoclassical choreography to enhance visual aesthetics.
  • George Balanchine utilized deep pliés in his neoclassical choreography to create visually stunning lines and emphasize the fluidity of movement. By incorporating deep pliés into his dances, he was able to showcase the dancers' technical prowess while also allowing them to express musicality through their movements. This technique contributed to Balanchine's signature style, where depth and elevation combined with elegance became key features of his works.
• Evaluate the impact of deep pliés on the evolution of neoclassical ballet as an art form.
  • The impact of deep pliés on the evolution of neoclassical ballet has been significant as they represent a shift towards more dynamic and expressive movement vocabulary. This technique allows dancers to explore greater levels of emotional expression and physicality, enriching the storytelling aspect of ballet. As choreographers like Balanchine embraced deep pliés, they paved the way for future generations to innovate within the genre, merging classical techniques with contemporary influences.

Related terms

Plié: A basic ballet movement that involves bending the knees while keeping the back straight and the heels on the ground.

Tendu: A movement where the dancer extends one leg straight out from the body, with the toes pointing to the ground.

Relevé: A movement where the dancer rises up onto the balls of the feet or full foot from a plié position.