Plié (pronounced *plee-ay*) is a French term meaning "creased" or "folded." It is one of the most recognizable and fundamental ballet positions. The plié is defined as bending the knees in either a grand-plié (full bending of the knees) or a demi-plié (half bending of the knees), with the legs turned out from the hips and the knees open and over the toes. A plié can be done in any one of the five ballet positions. 

A good plié is dependent on the strength of your thigh muscles, glutes, and core. Below are tips on how to perfect a demi-plié. These tips apply to both female and male ballet dancers.

1. __Turn your feet outward__. The positions of the feet make a big difference in the proper alignment of your body—they should be turned outward in a straight line. If you are just beginning, you can practice your demi-plié in either first position or second position.
2. __Engage your core and hips to make them strong__. Straighten your knees and lock in your shoulders and keep them open. Keep your hamstrings, inner thighs, and lower-back activated as well.
3. __Bend your knees halfway__. Push down through your heels without lifting them from the floor for the demi-pliés. Don’t put the weight on the balls of your feet.
4. __Fully straighten your legs__. Lift after each demi-plié, straightening your legs without lifting them from the floor as you move upward.

A grand-plié and demi-plié require the same basic foundation. The only difference is that in a grand-plié, the dancer is fully bending their knees.

1. __Turn your feet outward__. Turn out the feet to a straight line. If you are in first position, your heels should be touching. If you are in second position, the feet are separated by a distance of one foot. 
2. __Engage your core and stand up straight__. Straighten your knees and lock in your shoulders and keep them open.
3. __Bend your knees fully__. Push down through the ball of your foot, keeping your inner-thighs engaged. If you are in first positon, allow your heels to come off the ground. Keep your heels on the ground in you are in second position.
4. __Straighten your legs__. Lift after each grand-plié, straightening your legs without lifting them from the floor as you move upward.
If you're new to ballet or it’s been a while since you've performed, these tips below are best practice for ballet dancing.

1. __Always warm-up__. It's essential to stretch your body before diving into any advanced poses. Do some basic poses at the barre to start, like tendus and [arabesques, to get your blood flowing](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-do-an-arabesque).
2. __Invest in good footwear__. Good footwear doesn't necessarily mean expensive. It means finding a ballet shoe that fits your foot best. You'll want something with grips at the balls of the feet. Full sole or split-sole ballet shoes are both commonly used. Do not use socks or bare feet.
3. __Stay hydrated__. Dancing is a sport and you're likely to sweat a lot, even if you're just doing barre poses. Hydrate well before you start, and keep a water bottle by your side.
4. __Listen to your body__. It takes time and practice before executing proper ballet technique and choreography. Don't push your body to do any pose it's uncomfortable with.

Practice ballet with Misty Copeland, the principal dancer with the American Ballet Theatre. Get the [MasterClass Annual Membership](https://www.masterclass.com/) and learn how to put individual barre techniques together to create powerful performances and introduce artistry to your choreography.
[The plié is a fundamental ballet move](https://www.masterclass.com/classes/misty-copeland-teaches-ballet-technique-and-artistry/chapters/barre-warm-up-plies-and-tendus) and is the basis for many other poses in dance. Almost every type of ballet dancer, from beginner ballerinas to those who are en pointe, practice their pliés, constantly looking to improve this classical ballet movement. 


[The plié is a fundamental ballet move](https://www.masterclass.com/classes/misty-copeland-teaches-ballet-technique-and-artistry/chapters/barre-warm-up-plies-and-tendus) and is the basis for many other poses in dance. Almost every type of ballet dancer, from beginner ballerinas to those who are en pointe, practice their pliés, constantly looking to improve this classical ballet movement. 


How to Master a Plié: 4 Tips for New Ballet Dancers

Plié (pronounced plee-ay) is a French term meaning &quot;creased&quot; or &quot;folded.&quot; It is one of the most recognizable and fundamental ballet positions. The plié is defined as bending the knees in either a grand-plié (full bending of the knees) or a demi-plié (half bending of the knees), with the legs turned out from the hips and the knees open and over the toes. A plié can be done in any one of the five ballet positions.

What Is a Plié?

A good plié is dependent on the strength of your thigh muscles, glutes, and core. Below are tips on how to perfect a demi-plié. These tips apply to both female and male ballet dancers.<ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Turn your feet outward. The positions of the feet make a big difference in the proper alignment of your body—they should be turned outward in a straight line. If you are just beginning, you can practice your demi-plié in either first position or second position. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Engage your core and hips to make them strong. Straighten your knees and lock in your shoulders and keep them open. Keep your hamstrings, inner thighs, and lower-back activated as well. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Bend your knees halfway. Push down through your heels without lifting them from the floor for the demi-pliés. Don’t put the weight on the balls of your feet. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 4. Fully straighten your legs. Lift after each demi-plié, straightening your legs without lifting them from the floor as you move upward. </li></ol>

How to Do a Demi-Plié

A grand-plié and demi-plié require the same basic foundation. The only difference is that in a grand-plié, the dancer is fully bending their knees.<ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Turn your feet outward. Turn out the feet to a straight line. If you are in first position, your heels should be touching. If you are in second position, the feet are separated by a distance of one foot. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Engage your core and stand up straight. Straighten your knees and lock in your shoulders and keep them open. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Bend your knees fully. Push down through the ball of your foot, keeping your inner-thighs engaged. If you are in first positon, allow your heels to come off the ground. Keep your heels on the ground in you are in second position. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 4. Straighten your legs. Lift after each grand-plié, straightening your legs without lifting them from the floor as you move upward. </li></ol>

How to Do a Grand-Plié

If you&#39;re new to ballet or it’s been a while since you&#39;ve performed, these tips below are best practice for ballet dancing.<ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Always warm-up. It&#39;s essential to stretch your body before diving into any advanced poses. Do some basic poses at the barre to start, like tendus and <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-do-an-arabesque' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-do-an-arabesque","linkCopy":"arabesques, to get your blood flowing","category":null}'>arabesques, to get your blood flowing</a>. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Invest in good footwear. Good footwear doesn&#39;t necessarily mean expensive. It means finding a ballet shoe that fits your foot best. You&#39;ll want something with grips at the balls of the feet. Full sole or split-sole ballet shoes are both commonly used. Do not use socks or bare feet. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Stay hydrated. Dancing is a sport and you&#39;re likely to sweat a lot, even if you&#39;re just doing barre poses. Hydrate well before you start, and keep a water bottle by your side. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 4. Listen to your body. It takes time and practice before executing proper ballet technique and choreography. Don&#39;t push your body to do any pose it&#39;s uncomfortable with. </li></ol>

4 Tips for New Dancers Performing a Plié

Practice ballet with Misty Copeland, the principal dancer with the American Ballet Theatre. Get the <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/","linkCopy":"MasterClass Annual Membership","category":null}'>MasterClass Annual Membership</a> and learn how to put individual barre techniques together to create powerful performances and introduce artistry to your choreography.

Learn More

<a href='https://www.masterclass.com/classes/misty-copeland-teaches-ballet-technique-and-artistry/chapters/barre-warm-up-plies-and-tendus' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/classes/misty-copeland-teaches-ballet-technique-and-artistry/chapters/barre-warm-up-plies-and-tendus","linkCopy":"The plié is a fundamental ballet move","category":null}'>The plié is a fundamental ballet move</a> and is the basis for many other poses in dance. Almost every type of ballet dancer, from beginner ballerinas to those who are en pointe, practice their pliés, constantly looking to improve this classical ballet movement.

The plié is a fundamental ballet move (https://www.masterclass.com/classes/misty-copeland-teaches-ballet-technique-and-artistry/chapters/barre-warm-up-plies-and-tendus) and is the basis for many other poses in dance. Almost every type of ballet dancer, from beginner ballerinas to those who are en pointe, practice their pliés, constantly looking to improve this classical ballet movement. 
