In a grand plié, what must be maintained?

• A. Turnout and neutral alignment.
• B. Knee collapse and inward rotation.
• C. Arms should be held at chest height.
• D. There is no specific alignment requirement.

Answer: (A)

The main idea being tested is keeping proper alignment and turnout during a grand plié. In this movement you bend the knees deeply while the legs stay turned out from the hips, so the feet and knees move in the same direction and the knees track over the toes. The pelvis stays level and the spine stays long and neutral, so you don’t tilt or twist the torso. This combination—maintaining turnout from the hips and a neutral spine—protects the joints and gives the clean Cecchetti line expected at Grade 2.

Knee collapse or inward rotation would mean losing turnout and misaligning the joints, which is the opposite of what this exercise requires. Arm height isn’t the defining factor for grand plié in this context, and there is indeed a specific alignment to maintain.