subject: Flexing Your Way to Better Ballet [print this page] Flexing Your Way to Better Ballet Flexing Your Way to Better Ballet
Flexibility is a very important aspect of ballet which is achieved in order to produce proper form in flow and movement. However, many young dancers often place too much emphasis on attaining greater flexibility at the onset. Such a strong focus on flexing can lead to injury, and additional exercises to reach higher degrees of flexibility for many forms aren't always necessary to catch the eye of the professional dance world.
There are five major poses and abilities that should be the focus of flexibility training. Remaining energy should be spent on acquiring good form and technique which is a very large part of what dance companies look for. If you can attain the following goals of flexibility and master quality technique then you should have little problem getting noticed.
Attaining full flexibility with the splits is, by far, the most important. Once this is achieved, accomplishing the other poses is simply a matter of practice. Therefore, spend the better part of your daily flex routine in achieving your full range of the splits. You should push yourself on reaching this goal without forcing it as this could lead to injury. Full flexibility in doing the splits will come gradually if practiced with commitment.
As you increase your flexible range of the splits, the other four developes will be much easier to accomplish. The following develope goals should then be given attention. These are:
arabesque of 90 degrees or higher
devant of 90 degrees or higher attitude
escarte of 100 degrees or higher develop
a leap of 180 degrees
Achieving full flexibility in doing the splits will greatly assist in learning, developing and mastering these developes. Much of the focus that will be needed thereafter is in balance and form.
A high posse should begin any develope. From there, you must concentrate on keeping the knee from dropping. Good form allows for the extension of the leg from the knee to foot without movement from the upper leg. Full extension is required to achieve these developes which is why focus on reaching full splits is necessary. Attention should also be given to keeping the back straight, as well as arm placement. Full extension combined with height will need to be practiced when performing leaps.
As you learn to concentrate and maintain all points of these four developes, practice, balance and control will eventually bear fruit for acquiring good form in these critical skills.
