To ensure proper alignment at the start of a Barre sequence, which action should you perform?

• A. Relevé To Height
• B. Grand Battement En Place
• C. Plié In A Stable Turnout Line
• D. Attitude

Answer: (C)

Setting up the barre begins with establishing a solid, stable turnout from the hips through the legs. A plié in a stable turnout line does exactly that: the feet are placed in turnout, the knees track over the second toes, and the pelvis stays level while the spine lengthens. This creates a firm base and keeps the shoulders down and the ribcage soft, so the entire body can move from a balanced, aligned position. Once this foundation is in place, the rest of the barre movements—tendus, degages, and beyond—can be executed with consistent alignment.

Choosing anything that lifts you to relevé too early can disrupt that base and let the turnout or knee alignment shift. A grand battement en place focuses on height and extension rather than establishing the initial alignment, and an attitude is a position that requires its own specific alignment rather than setting up the starting frame. The plié in a stable turnout line is the best choice for beginning with proper alignment.