Do you have to be flexible to dance???

Question

Just curious.

Answer 1

No you dont have to be flexible to dance;

Ive been dancing for 8years and I cant do the splits and I'm not perticulally flexible. Although a degree of flexibility is helpful espicially for ballet.

Hannah..x

Answer 2

It does help, but no its not imperative. Besides, you will be stretching before dancing and with that and warm ups, your body will become more flexible :)

Answer 3

yeah..helps alot!

Answer 4

well it really helps and you look soooo much better if you are flexible!

if your doing classes like ballet, contempery and jazz then it REALLY helps and in some classes it is required to be able to do the splits.

if your doing dancing like the tango or other partner dancing it isnt important.

if your just taking classes for fun then you don't have to be flexible but if you want to become really good, then its probably best.

Answer 5

Not really, But it really depends on what kind of dance..Like cheerleading, you need to be flexible.

Answer 6

Not at all!

But it might help if you're doing ballet, contemporary, etc.

But there is a way to become flexible:

1. Wear stretchy clothes to stay in the same position without getting too bored.

2. Spread your legs as wide as they will go, and sit with them wide for 10-15 minutes.

3. Use something to hold your legs in that wide position such as something heavy and wide like a dresser, a wall, or a person(who slowly widens them with his/her legs).

4.  Stand every 10-15 minutes and allow the pain from the stretch to wear off.

5. Get stretched faster and do more stretches for the same amount of time.

6. Repeat the process and allow your self to stretch wider each time for more minutes (25)at least.

7. Remember to breath deeply and stretch more on exhales

8. Avoid bouncing and rocking into position or having someone painfully force the stretch. You could tear or damage tendons, ligaments and muscles.

Here are some tips:

* Stretch before a hot bath or shower.

* Don't eat while stretching.

* Don't stop stretching once you start.

* Have a positive attitude.

* Lunges help.

* Stretch using rubber bands, or warm water to warm muscles.

* Don't over-stretch yourself, or go beyond your limits.

* Don't hurt yourself, or endure too much pain just to get the splits down.

* Gently massage the upper leg muscles while streching, for some people this seems to ease the pain.

* Practice makes perfect.

* Don't wait until the week before tryouts to learn to do splits. Start practicing months in advance so your muscles and flexibility develop.

* Once your body is used to splitting, it will become easier and easier to do it.

* Always be committed to doing the splits because once you stop for awhile your muscles won't be as flexible as it used to.

If you are really unflexible after strretching and don't mind what type of dancing you do, try hip hop. it's fun, good for excersise and you don't have to be flexible at all.

Hope I helped and good luck!

LDxx

Answer 7

You don't need to be flexible to dance like hip hop doesn't require flexibility. A lot of dance style require you to have good flexibility in order to be good at the dance style but you will have teachers that will help you improve your flexibility so don't worry if you aren't flexible.