Tips for Teaching Your Students Pliés and Tendus
Pliés and tendus are two of the most basic steps in ballet. And if you think about it, they’re really the building blocks of just about every other ballet step there is! Today, I want to take you through a few tips and things to think about when it comes to pliés and tendus. Whether you’re a student yourself, or a ballet teacher, I think these can help you or your students.
Demi Plié
Plié means to bend. Pliés should have a fluid movement quality. Imagine how you might move while underwater.
When doing a plié, think about keeping a neutral spine and pelvis. This means try not to tip it or tuck your hips. Instead, think about keeping your hips long.
Make sure you’re holding your turnout as you plié. As you bend your knees, they should be over your toes. Turn the legs out from the tops of the thighs. Think of a candy cane spiraling while bending and stretching the legs.
Make sure your feet are engaged on the floor. The arches should be lifted. Don’t let them roll forward toward the floor. If the arches are rolling forward toward the floor, turnout is being forced.
Finally, relax your shoulders. Take a deep breath and let go of any tension.
Battement Tendu
Tendu means to stretch. There are four main areas to think about when it comes to tendu.
Hips: Keep the front of your pelvis long. Imagine extra space in your hip sockets to help you grow taller as you tendu.
Crossed Legs: Imagine your very upper inner thighs crossing so that they are ALWAYS touching as you tendu front and back.
Stretched Legs: Imagine you HAVE to extend your leg into tendu because it is getting longer. As you close, continue to think of that feeling of lengthening your leg, especially behind the knee and through the heel. Imagine the extra length going down into the floor as you close.
Feet and Ankles: Know where to start. When going to the front, lead with the heel and ankle and drop the toes down as you extend out. When going to the back, initiate with the toes and drop the ankle as you extend out.