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    A plié is an important factor in many dance moves. It is the bend in the legs that takes place before jumps and turns. For these, it is critical to apply a force against the floor that is larger than the dancer's body weight. A plié must be deep enough to create a sufficient acceleration, but not too deep that the jump is not high enough. With turns, pliés help to create angular momentum so the dancer can spin. Don't believe it? Try jumping with straight legs!

 
                                                                                                     
                Notice the plié before the jumps. She presses a force into the floor, and the floor pushes back, allowing her to get a good height.
                                                                           GIF from buzzfeed.com

  Vocabulary:

• Acceleration: Increase in the rate or speed of an object