WendyMichelle Posted August 22, 2006 Report Share Posted August 22, 2006 I don't think I spelled that right................. So I'm having this problem with devellopes, particularly a la second and somewhat to the front as well. I have regained my side splits, can do heel stretches well above 90 degrees, and my arabesques are now slightly above 90 degrees as well. However, when it comes to front and side extensions I struggle to get my legs to 90. The flexibility is there.........it just feels like there is no strength to lift and hold. How, what, why...............am I doing wrong? WM Quote Link to comment
vrsfanatic Posted August 22, 2006 Report Share Posted August 22, 2006 Perhaps the issue may be the strength of the stomach and the ability to contract the deeper inner muscles of the hip socket. The quadracepts must sustain the height of the leg but without the strength of the torso and the ability to contract in the hip socket, it may be very difficult to hold the leg at 45, 90 degrees and above with logical classical line and sensability. FYI: developpe with sharp accents on the first and last e. Quote Link to comment
WendyMichelle Posted August 22, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2006 Hmmmm, that makes very good sense. Now what can I do to build strength in the torso? Please, please, oh I'm begging you, PLEASE don't say crunches!!! ;) We also don't have access to pilates in this area. Quote Link to comment
vrsfanatic Posted August 22, 2006 Report Share Posted August 22, 2006 Ha, ha, ha...crunches may strengthen your core muscles however the understanding of the coordination of the movement is only accomplished through repetition and practice! Begin approaching developpe concentrating on strengthening the body as you do the movement. Make your hip flextion and body strength a priority not the height of the working leg. Also be very strict with yourself as you straigthen your working leg, not to drop the working knee. Open your working leg lifting your body upward as you lengthen outward reaching with your working toes and heel without dropping the height of the working knee. This is key! Remember to keep your working heel facing forward as you open the working leg. Suspending the working arm in 2nd position as if being held up by water will also help to lighten the opening of the working leg to the side. Be patient. This cannot be accomplished in the blink of an eye. It will take time! Quote Link to comment
WendyMichelle Posted August 22, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2006 Wow........that was so good I'm printing it out for future reference! Thanks! WM One last thing......you say not to drop the working knee......what if you are hyperextended? Quote Link to comment
vrsfanatic Posted August 22, 2006 Report Share Posted August 22, 2006 (edited) If a student is hyperextended then all the more reason not to drop the knee. As you stretch your working knee, pay great attention to lifting the lower leg with the muscles above the kneecap. Hyperextended students must reinforce and strengthen the muscles above the kneecap or the leg will never fully function as a true support when you must stand on it. Never forget both legs serve two functions. Edited August 26, 2006 by vrsfanatic Quote Link to comment
olddude Posted August 26, 2006 Report Share Posted August 26, 2006 Hmmmm, that makes very good sense. Now what can I do to build strength in the torso? Please, please, oh I'm begging you, PLEASE don't say crunches!!! ;) We also don't have access to pilates in this area. An exercize I've been given may be a good one. Others more knowledgeable may have corrections, but I'll do my best here. Sit up straight, on the floor, legs extended forward, turned out and point the toes. Arms in high fifth (third I think in Russian? anyhow above your head). Raise your feet, one at a time to the music, without letting your lower back fold. A few inches is plenty! If it doesn't hurt inside your hip, you're doing it wrong - or else you already have fabulous extension and don't need this exercise! OK, bring on the corrections! Quote Link to comment
Guest pink tights Posted September 6, 2006 Report Share Posted September 6, 2006 WendyM--do you have access to a good yoga studio? I've been doing yoga off and on since last winter--really feel like I have made progress strengthening the core. Also yoga really works the whole torso--all those twisting poses and movements. Might be worth checking into!! Quote Link to comment
WendyMichelle Posted September 15, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2006 Adding on to the previous question............. Last night we were doing this and I was noticing one of the girls (the very good girl who went to ABT this summer). I noticed in her deloppes a la second that her hips shifted and really opened up. I've somehow had it pounded into my head to keep the hips square. Is there some rotation/opening of the hip that has to happen to allow for a higher extension? And would this perhaps help to explain why I am struggling to get above 90 degrees when the flexibility is definitely there? Btw........we have started doing a half an hour of pilates after every class (followed by some light weights on our arms and stretching). I can really feel the benefits of it and am much more aware of the "core." Quote Link to comment
Administrators Victoria Leigh Posted September 15, 2006 Administrators Report Share Posted September 15, 2006 No, Wendy, the hips are supposed to stay square in seconde. The working hip has to open a bit for arabesque, but not for à la seconde. In contemporary ballet, with extreme extensions, you will see some alignment changes, but that is not allowed in classical training. Quote Link to comment
WendyMichelle Posted September 15, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2006 So I am correct in keeping my hips square and working on the extension from there? Quote Link to comment
Administrators Victoria Leigh Posted September 15, 2006 Administrators Report Share Posted September 15, 2006 Yes Quote Link to comment
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