Plies
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The demi-plie- half-bending of the knees w/o lifting the heels from the floor.
The grand plie- full bending of the knees, passing through the demi-plie and lowering until only the balls of the feet remain on the floor.
Grand plie in second position is an exception- heels never leave the floor.
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Releve
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A rise onto the balls of the feet, with the legs straight and the torso held erect. The weight of the body must be centered bwtween the first and second toes to maintain correct alignment of the ankle. The toes should be extended and spread open against the floor for balance. The upper body is lifted as the balls of the feet press into the floor on the rise, and it remains lifted as the heels are lowered to the floor on the descent.
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Battement
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‘Beating’ is an extension of the leg that brushes the foot along the floor. Battements can be performed to the front, side, or back. When battements are performed to the front, side, side, back, and again to the side, the ter, en croix is used to describe this action. The level of the leg and the quality of the movement define the type of battement.
Battement Tendu ‘stretched beating’, is a brush of the straight leg to its full extension, with only the toes remaining on the floor. The foot must release contact with the floor in a sequential movement from the heel through the ball of the foot to the toes. The closing of the tendu reverses the sequential movement. The purpose of battement tendu is to develop strength and flexibility in the muscles of the feet.
Battement Degae ‘released beating’ is a quck brush of the straight leg through tendu to a position slightly off the floor. The rapidity of this movement trains the foot to work quickly; it is therefore essential that the foot is not lifted higher than four inches off the floor.
Grand Battement ‘large beating’, is a high, straight-leg lift, passing through the tendu and degage and carrying the leg quickly to 90 degrees or higher. The return of the grand battement passes through the closing movement of the tendu. Lifting the leg quickly and lowering it slowly is an essential technique in grand battement.
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Develope
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Starts with the gesturing leg in first or fifth position. It is then smoothly drawn up along the supporting leg to an extended position ending at 45 degrees or higher. The leg can u nfold front, side, or back. developes are an excellent way to strengthen the muscles of the abdomen, legs, and lower back. They require great control and will improve the dancer’s ability to sustain an extension of the leg in the air. When a develope is performed, it is important to establish the height of the leg by first lifting the thigh. From the height of the thigh, the dancer then unfolds the lower leg to that level. The pelvis will tilt sligthly sideward when extending 90 degrees to the side, and it will tilt slightly forward when extending back.
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Ronde de Jambe
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‘Circling of the leg’ is a movement in which the working leg traces a semicircle on the ground (a terre) or in the air (a l’air). When the leg travels in an arc from the front to the back, it is called en dehors (outward); en dedans (inward) is when it goes from back to front. When the round de jambe is performed, it is important to stabilize the torso and the hips.
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