THE IMPORTANCE OF ONE OF THE DANCERS’ FUNDAMENTAL STEP Even if it is sometimes considered, by dancers, a “boring” exercise, Plies are one of the fundamental movements in ballet. The term Plies comes from the French language and means “bent”. It is an action that is made by the knees, followed by the hip joint and ankle.

Origins in antiquity: The earliest historical records showing the origins of dance are cave paintings in India dating to about 8000 BCE Egyptian tomb paintings also depict dance in about 3300 BCE These early dances may have been religious in nature, and by the era of ancient Greece.

Understanding Modern Dance: A Guide to Modern Dance Modern dance may have started as a rejection of classical ballet techniques, but it is now a recognizable art form that stands on its own.