Yuriy’s Ballet Class! Exercise 1: Plies

You can’t take a class with Yuriy, but you can take a class from Yuriy. I will be posting a series of beginner/intermediate combinations that Yuriy might give.

Remember, Yuriy was trained in the Russian style, so some of the terminology may differ from what you are used to!

Exercise 1: Pliés (4/4)

Begin in 1st position, left hand on the barre, right arm in preparation. Right arm allongé into 1st port de bras, hold in 2nd. Demi, relevé, bring both arms into 3rd, roll down while opening arms to 2nd, take the barre. Repeat. Grand plié with the usual port de bras. Arm into 3rd, port de bras forward, open arm/leg into 2nd.

Same pattern in 2nd position. Port de bras into the barre. Rond into 4th. Same pattern; port de bras away from the barre. Tendu, close 5th. Same pattern; outside arm into 3rd, cambré back.

Tendu to side while simultaneously outside arm opens into 2nd. Legs close in 1st while both arms lower into preparation. Relevé in 1st. Raise arms into 3rd. Open arms into 2nd, do not take the barre. Allongé, raise again into 3rd. Bring back down into 1st. Open 2nd. Soutenu, other side.