KNEE!
Bending down or plié is one of the crux of dance and simply movement. It requires one very special joint in our bodies to work well for us to feel functionally okay, to simply achieve the once and still evolutionary marvel of being human, the ability to walk upright. The one special joint—the knee joint.
...one very special joint in our bodies to work well for us to feel functionally okay, to simply achieve the once and still evolutionary marvel of being human, the ability to walk upright. The one special joint—the knee joint.
The knee joint is a hinge joint that could only move on one plane. Meaning it could only be bent or straightened, but not moved from side to side or in circular motion. It also bears the weight of our bodies and connects it to the foot that works to bring us around in space, be it within or outside of the dance setting.
1. What is the knee composed of?
The knee is part of our skeletal system. Which consists of:
Bones
That is the frame of the body and its parts.
Patella is the fancy latin name for knee cap that is the “face” of the knee joint.
If you ever knelt or fell on your knee, and got away with some bruises and or scratches on the skin, your sweet ol' patella is working perfectly well to protect the gap between you femur (thigh) and tibia (calf).
Joints
A gap between the bones that allow space for movement of the knee.
The wider the space, the wider the range of motion one possess, or what we call mobility/flexibility.
Hyperextension of the knee is a sign or hint that one has above average range of motion.
Quick Assessment on knee hyperextension:
Seated with feet stretched in front of the body in parallel. When your knees are fully stretched, if your heels come off the floor, you have hyperextension to different degrees. 
Ligaments
The official and proven natural strong adhesives for bones that connect one bone to another forming the frame of the body or its parts, just like our knee here.
There are adhesives all around the knee joint to stabilise the gap for efficient bend (flexion) and stretch (extension) movement.
2. Where is the knee located in relation to the body?
