Turnout is something you cannot think of only in plié. Yes, when you bend, it’s easier to feel the hips rotating, to feel the openness. But the real test comes when you rise. As you push into relevé, the turnout wants to disappear. This is where you must hold it. The rotation has to continue, even as the body lifts. That’s how you build control and strength: by keeping the same feeling of rotation no matter where the movement goes. | Runqiao Du Ballet Coaching

Many dancers think plié is just about bending the knees. But if you only go down, the movement becomes heavy. That’s why we have to think in two directions at once: while the body lowers, the energy must rise. Imagine the top of your head is always touching the ceiling. When you bend, don’t collapse. Instead, lengthen your back, keep the height, and let your energy reach upward. The moment you do this, the plié changes instantly. It feels softer, lighter, and more musical. | Runqiao Du Ballet Co