Mastering Stability in Plié en Pointe for Flexible Ankles

Dancing en pointe requires immense control and a deep understanding of your own anatomy, especially during transitions like a plié. For many dancers, particularly those with highly flexible ankles, performing a plié en pointe can feel unstable or even "scary." This Broche Ballet Q&A session addresses this specific challenge, providing a technical roadmap for finding stability and power when the knees bend while on the tips of your toes. To achieve a functional and secure plié, you must shift your perspective from a passive stretch to an active, muscular engagement.

The core of the technique lies in ankle placement relative to the shoe's box. When you descend into a plié en pointe, it is easy to let the ankles fall too far forward, which compromises your center of gravity. Instead, focus on pulling your ankles back behind the box. By riding right behind the shoe, you create a structural alignment that allows your thighs and hamstrings to remain fully engaged. Think of the movement as your feet transitioning from a vertical orientation to a more horizontal, flexed position while maintaining contact with the floor through the platform of the shoe.

In this video, we explore the difference between a simple foot stretch and a functional plié. A functional plié en pointe requires the ankles to be actively pulled back, ensuring that the back of the foot remains over the box without tipping over the front edge. This specific alignment is what allows a dancer to maintain power and preparation for subsequent movements like a relevé or a sauté. By implementing these adjustments, you can eliminate the feeling of instability and replace it with a grounded, powerful foundation for your pointe work. Whether you are struggling with hypermobility or simply looking to refine your technique, these insights from Broche Ballet will help you dance with greater confidence and safety.