develope side and front

[semperfidancer]

I am able to lift my leg (with my hand) to my head and face, but, I am not able to develope it that high. is there any exersices or things I should do to help me with that? Also, to the side, when I get to a certain hite, I feel as if I am tensing up or it is stuck. Why do iteel this way?

[Victoria Leigh]

Are you studying ballet or aiming for Cirque du Soleil?

[semperfidancer]

I don't understand what you mean? What is the Cirque du Soleil?

[Victoria Leigh]

A company of acrobats. Very fine acrobats, very artistic, and wonderful shows which are extremely well choreographed. But, they are not ballet dancers, they are acrobats.

[semperfidancer]

I understand now, and totally understand what you mean. Thank you for setting me straight. For the future I will remember that, I will also remember quality, not quantity. Thank you so much!!

[Guest Terin]

Ms. Leigh, do you mean that at a certain level a dancer has reached their limit, and should stop pushing to get better? I don't think I could do that. One of the things I love most about dance is always pushing my limits to improve. Can you please explain this to me, because right now I'm just confused and a little upset?

[Victoria Leigh]

Terin, a dancer NEVER stops trying to improve! They take class every day of their lives for heavens sake! That is not what I meant at all. I was speaking of quality versus quantity, and the idea that one must have their leg in their face or by their ear for classical ballet is ludicrous. Extension is one thing, acrobatics is another. Extensions must be placed and rotated, with the hips aligned for front and side, and that is far more important than having it 180º!

[Guest elle]

semperfidancer, one way to get your extensions higher is to pull it up to whatever hight you can get it, with CORRECT PLACEMENT, and then let go and hold it there, then lower it down as slowly as you can. this will build muscles where you need them so that your extensions can go higher. you don't necessarily have to have your extensions up to your ears but it's nice if you CAN. just make sure that your hips are always aligned, your rear's in, your knees are straight, etc. etc. etc.

[Guest Terin]

Alright, thank you, Ms. Leigh. I understand much better now. What a relief.

[Guest ballet_barbie72]

A girl I dance with has amazing flexibility, as she used to be a gymnast. Yet it was as though she lacked the strength to even lift her leg to 45 degrees. After a while, our dance teacher gave her some excersises to strengthen her underneath thigh muscle. (sorry, i'm not sure of that muscles name) not she can do beautiful developpes and grande battments etc. Just thought I would share that story with you.

Love Erin xoxo

[Guest JRSDANCER87]

Ballet_barbie72, I believe it's the hamstring. I have a view from "the other side". I can't lift my legs extremely high, but I have finally figured out how to hold them at the point that I can extend them, and I'm feeling strong, however, I am not very flexible. It is something I *really* need to work on! Anyway, I feel like I might be able to lift my legs higher, if I were more flexible. Sometimes when you grow your bones grow first and then your mucsles catchup afterwards causing you to lose flexibility which is what I feel has happened to me. If you are all very flexible, then it might just be strength to work on. For me, I have to work on flexibility a lot and I think that will help me.

[Guest primaballerina13]

Ballet_barbie72,

Do you know what the exercise your teacher gave that girl was? I am very bad at doing developes as i don't have the strength. though i can do it pretty good to the side.