Ballet stretches? see details.?

Question

i signed up for a ballet class today that starts on thursday. i am not very flexible and i want to limber up a bit before class starts. what sorts of stretches should i do? thanx! all serious answers appreciated!!!

Answer 1

Well you aren't going to "limber up" like a ballerina 3 days before class starts. But some things you can do is stretch your hamstrings because that will be something they will do a lot of at the barre and being able to go a bit further than before will help you. Do as much reaching for your toes (either standing or sitting on the floor with your legs in a V) as you can. The important thing to remember if you are going to stretch on the floor is to keep your back straight. Try to reach as far as you can and hold it for as long as you can, then reach even farther and hold it, then reach even farther then hold it, etc.

Chances are you will learn a whole lot more stretches you can do on the barre after your first class so if you do those every day next week by the next class you will be much more limber! The important thing is to do it everyday and to hold the stretches for at least 30 seconds each.

Answer 2

i know what you mean! i dance ballet too and i am not flexible. if this is your first time i would take it easy and make sure you ask your teacher if your doing everything right! Ou will probably take a couple minutes to stretch in class. once you really know what your doing, you should stretch about half an hour at home everyday!

Answer 3

You will stretch in class, but it's great to do it plenty at home to improve flexibility, and before class to help warm up.

Do the splits on the right side, left side, and in the middle.  Hold yourself in the stretch for at least 30 seconds.  Remember to breathe.  Try to go down as far as you can without hurting yourself!  Know your limits.  You should feel a good stretch, but if there is unbearable pain, then stop.  I find that in the center splits, if you rest your weight on your heels (instead of rolling onto the sides of your feet), then you will go down further.  Good luck!

Also, simply lay on your back.  Now, bring one leg up and pull it towards your face.  Keep both legs straight (the other must remain flat on the ground).

Try doing simply things such as touching your toes.  Sit down with your legs stretched in front of you, and try to reach beyond your toes.  Even try bringing your face to touch your knees.

You will need to gain some flexibility in your back for moves such as cambres.  If you can hold the "bridge" position, then your back's flexibility is adequate.

You could try kicking your legs up as high as possible, going both front, side, and back.  Make sure the standing leg and working leg remain straight.  For more of a challenge, try doing this with turnout, keeping your toes pointed, and keeping your hips square and even.

Good luck!

Answer 4

Same! When I first started to take ballet lessons, I was like a stick! But now The girls in my class say i am the most flexible... I started doing this stretch were you get down on your knees and put on against a wall behind you and slide the other leg down into the splits. Now I know  that sound hard or something like that, but after doing this on BOTH legs and just trying It out before class a lot I got down in splits and I felt so confedent in my self... and once you learn to get down in the splits,  you kind of have all the stretches that the instructor in your class teaches you come easy and also after knowing you got down in something you get confedence to get down in everything else!!!! Good luck!