One step keeps us on the floor yet makes us soar. One movement makes the difference between a class exercise and performance-perfect pose. And when en pointe, this step takes pointing our feet to new heights.. releve!
So integral to more advanced movement as we progress in balance and muscle control, being able to take any pose and position into a releve is an exciting capability to quire along the journey of ballet training. The releve requires several basic aspects of form, coordination, movement to make it possible. And it’s all based on our favorite first ballet movement we ever learn, the plie. Take a deep plie, pressing your heels into the floor, then in one fluid movement lift your heels and stretch your knees till you’re fully up on your tippy toes. Optimizing the lift of the heels and pulling up through the top of your head, that “imaginary string pulling up to the sky,” helps stabilize the balance for as long as needed.
Watch these fun examples of releve in action peppered throughout the beloved lilac fairy variation
Remember, take a deep plie then do your own releve challenge!