How do I get my leg to stay up there?

[Guest NuAnointingDancer]

I am having some trouble getting my extension up high. I am rather flexible (I can do the splits on both sides but not in the middle) but I can not keep my leg up there. Does anyone have any advice?

 

Thanx,

 

NuAnointingDancer

[Victoria Leigh]

How long have you studied ballet, how old are you, and how many lessons a week do you have? I could answer this question much better with more knowledge of where you are in age and training level.

[Mel Johnson]

Flexibility is only one part of extension. You have to have the strength to put the leg at a given height and keep it there. First thing I'd do would be to check whether I were trying to put the leg in the right place, especially in a la seconde. A lot of people try to put it absolutely to the side, when their rotation won't let the leg rise to its full range. Try edging it farther forward, where it's within your control. One thing that really helped me develop the extension I had was the plain old jambe a la main, and once I had hoisted the leg up into position, only letting it come back down sloooowly. Pretty soon, I was holding it in a high seconde, and it wasn't dropping! And if a guy can do that, then any dancer can get that kind of extension!

[Guest NuAnointingDancer]

Ms. Leigh,

 

I am 15 years old, take three lesson of ballet and one lesson of jazz per week. I have been studied ballet for about 2 years now.

 

NuAnointingDancer

[Victoria Leigh]

Okay, that helps. With starting at 13 it could well take you a bit longer to develop the muscles that hold the extension. Getting it there is always easier than holding it there!

 

Keywords here are patience and work! In addition to what Mr. Johnson said, try placing your leg on the barre in à la seconde. Be sure you are well placed, with the hips square and even, both legs equally rotated, and no weight in the leg that is on the barre. If you can do this with no problem, then try lifting it slightly higher than the barre, hold a few counts, and place it down again. Repeat a few times with each leg. Don't overdo it, as it could overwork the quads.

 

If you can do jambe à la main correctly, without displacing the hips or distorting anything, then do that as Mr. Johnson said, letting the leg go and bringing it down very slowly. Another thing I like to do for control is grand battement in two measures of 3/4 music, which gives you time to bring the leg down slowly. Do the battement quickly, and then bring it down, don't let it fall down! If you can get the leg up at the start of the first measure of music, then use the rest of the measure and the second measure to lower it, totally under control, to the tendu and into 5th. Practice this front, side, and back.