Guest SweetSorrow123 Posted October 27, 2005 Report Share Posted October 27, 2005 I've always been bery flexible. I have a strong back, and AMAZING arabesque, but my abs are really weak and my legs seem to wobble a bit (find it hard to balance) when in the center. i have very strong calf muscle though. I'm confused, i'm pulling up, my placement is good and turnout is really good. i'm a really good jumper too and have a really good plie becuase i have long achilles. Is it because i am flexible that my legs are naturally weaker? what can anyone suggest to do? I'm also hyper exteneded, (sadly have OsGood Schlatter, but i deal with it) and been to a physio several times because i often sprain the muscle around my kneecap. (not badly, only ocassionally.) Anyways enough information, but what can i do to help my blacing and abs (to help hold my legs)? Thank you! Quote Link to comment
Mel Johnson Posted October 28, 2005 Report Share Posted October 28, 2005 Something here gives me a clue to what's going on: the repeated injury to muscles in the midleg. Osgood-Schlatter is a condition often found in adolescents, but that's usually confined to the shin alone. Part of what is wrong is causing the knee-area injuries, and I suspect that the abdominals not supporting rotation from the hip is at least a contributing factor. The lower abdominals have to be pulled in and up in order to give your back the support it needs in front! The best part about correcting this state of affairs is that it can be done anywhere, and anytime that you are awake. When you are in class, you must also make sure that your turnout is truly coming fromn the hipjoint, and that your knees are tracking on the same line the toes are pointing when they bend. Quote Link to comment
Guest SweetSorrow123 Posted October 28, 2005 Report Share Posted October 28, 2005 I've tried pulling up my stomach better, seems to help a bit, thanks. But, to help in the supporting of my knee, are there any excersizes to help fix up my knees a bit. I also have a very good understanding of Os Good, and have been doing excersize recomeemded by my physio. They are mostly quad stretches, perhaps this also has to do with the problem? the only weird thing is that my quads aren't tight in any way shape or form. also, hand-on-heel stretch, i get it allthe way there, and i am able to rotate that into a pencher, its stretches really well, so i do stretche my muscle and work by rotation well. also rend de jambes en l'air, (straight leg) my hips rotate almost perfectly. Thanks for your help, its greatly appreciated! Danielle Quote Link to comment
Guest SweetSorrow123 Posted November 6, 2005 Report Share Posted November 6, 2005 Hi, I really appreaciate your help, but i have big ribs and always have to close them. Does this affect how my abs work? Quote Link to comment
Mel Johnson Posted November 6, 2005 Report Share Posted November 6, 2005 That could have something to do with it. I can't see you, of course, but if you're collapsing the ribcage you could be compressing the abs, so it makes them harder to use. I do remember something that my first teacher used to give that just about rotted my socks when she would demonstrate it, and that was doing a situp while leaving the head and arms trailing. The situp was done entirely from the back and abs, and when I could finally do that, I knew that I was onto something! Quote Link to comment
Guest SweetSorrow123 Posted November 7, 2005 Report Share Posted November 7, 2005 Well, after trying to do it right a couple times, i felt my muscles work immediatly. I think it will help, actually! thanks. Quote Link to comment
Mel Johnson Posted November 7, 2005 Report Share Posted November 7, 2005 AHA! Lee Vincent Toon lives again through you! Do you see how it works? One student passes on the knowledge to another! And your "tutorial ancestry" goes back to Agnes de Mille and Anton Dolin and their teachers before them! Did you realize that? Quote Link to comment
Guest SweetSorrow123 Posted November 7, 2005 Report Share Posted November 7, 2005 No actually, but i guess now i'm cultural history:P! But yeah, it actually really does work Your help is really appreaciated, better dancing one step at a time. But the truly good dancers let it come form the heart Anyways, an earilier post in this topic, leg up and SLOWLY lowering it down: i've done it before but where the tough stuff comes in is if your don't touch the ground from lowering it and lifting it back up again. Its REALLY hard, i can barely put it back up, but if i do, i try to repeat it. Quote Link to comment
Mel Johnson Posted November 7, 2005 Report Share Posted November 7, 2005 Yes, I know what you mean. You're on the right track. And thank you for helping me keep my teacher alive in this world. (Alas, she passed to a better world where we all have perfect turnout and musicality in 1966.) Quote Link to comment
Guest SweetSorrow123 Posted November 7, 2005 Report Share Posted November 7, 2005 don't we all wish for that perfect world? Thank you, and i send my respects to all up in heaven Life is precious, live it stress-free and do what you enjoy. But following the law! anyways, thanks very much. Quote Link to comment
mydarlindancer Posted November 7, 2005 Report Share Posted November 7, 2005 You are such a wonderful encourager to the students on this forum, Mel...keep it coming! I share a lot of what you write with my daughter. A lot of what you say helps me to better understand this world, and sometimes the subtleties that I don't know. I am getting a real education here lately! So sorry, I just realized that I posted this in an area that I'm not supposed to! Should have knocked first. Quote Link to comment
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