What does Plié mean?

What does Plié mean?

• A. To bend
• B. To rise
• C. To jump
• D. To stretch

Answer: (A)

Bending the knees. Plié is the controlled bending of the knees (with turnout from the hips) used to soften movements, build balance, and prepare for steps and jumps. In Cecchetti training, you’ll hear about demi-plié and grand plié as two depths of this bend, but both are centered on the same action: the knees bend while the feet stay connected to the floor and the spine stays long. The other actions described—rising, jumping, or stretching—are different movements with their own terms, so plié specifically means bending, not lifting, jumping, or extending.

Bending the knees. Plié is the controlled bending of the knees (with turnout from the hips) used to soften movements, build balance, and prepare for steps and jumps. In Cecchetti training, you’ll hear about demi-plié and grand plié as two depths of this bend, but both are centered on the same action: the knees bend while the feet stay connected to the floor and the spine stays long. The other actions described—rising, jumping, or stretching—are different movements with their own terms, so plié specifically means bending, not lifting, jumping, or extending.