Help on switch leaps/strengthening the legs.?

Question

right i have to choreograph a lyrical solo for quite a big competition so i want to put loads of hard jumps and leaps in to really grab the attention of the adjudicator...i've been dancing since i was 4, (im now 17) and i'm a capable dancer with good elevation, but i just cannot the hang of switch(scissor) leaps. everytime i try, i do a small switch and land forward onto my hands....has anyone got any ecersises that will strengthen the legs and handy tips on acheiving a good switch leap? whenever i try a switch leap i feel as if my legs are going to snap off!

Answer 1

Just practice and practice HARD! It will pay off in the end! Before attempting the switch leaps warm up vigorously and practice other leaps and jumps that you can  do and then attempt a swithc leap. Dont think about it just go for it, you wil probably look like a fool at first but keep trying and the technique should improve.

Answer 2

Squats with or without weight: You can put a weight bar on your back, or not. But you squat down, and the goal is to get your thys parallel to the ground. come back up, repeat. Also lunges rock. do a ton of them. there's a really easy one that helps a lot you've probably done it before: you just squat down, touch the floor between your legs, then just jump up as high as you can with your hands above your head. It's called a squat-jump. whenever I do my swich legs, I try to have a really powerful start with lots of momentum from speed.

Answer 3

stretch more think up when you jump and get on stairs and on the ball of ur feet then take the back of ur feet up and down like releva and go down and that will stretch ur leg muscles and i would recommend a lot of like squating to get strong legs