How can I get my legs high in grand battements and Leaps?

Question

How do I know if it is because my Hamstrings are not good enough, or my flexiblity, I can do the side splits not the font split, nearly there though. I can only lift my leg around 90 degrees but need to lift it higher, Is it because of my weight? I m 119lbs?

Answer 1

Hi, good question.  I have a few suggestions and tips that hopefully will be of some assistance to you.

Normally well-stretched hamstrings, especially in professional schools, are expected to get your chest at most five inches from your knees.  That's not a lot, seriously -- you're pretty much folded in half at that point.  In order to receive these results, try these ever day:

BE CONSISTENT

     Always be consistent in your stretching.  Meaning, every day, do the same stretch that you want to attain flexibility in.  For example, if you wanted to become very flexible in the hamstrings, you would have to stretch your hamstrings in the same way every day.

PRACTICE

     Obviously, the thing that's going to press you to the flexibility you want is daily practice and rigorous stretching.  This seems to be the most difficult task for my students.  A way to keep yourself motivated is to set a schedule or a certain time of each day to stretch for about 10-15 minutes.  That way, you'll feel more encouraged to stretch and feel better that you stuck to your schedule afterward.  Besides, imagining yourself flexible is great motivation.

FIND A TECHNIQUE THAT'S GOOD FOR YOU

     It's important that you find the right stretching methods for you, so that you don't hurt yourself or don't like stretching.  Stretching with a friend is always fun and they can help keep you motivated.  There are several ways to stretch your hamstrings by yourself, as well.  You can sit on the floor and bend over onto your legs.  You can stand up with your feet together and bend down towards your legs.  You can also put your feet up on the barre and stretch that way.  Even splits help your hamstrings.  There are endless possibilities; however, remember to remain consistent.

Although hamstrings are important to stretch, this might not be your problem.   Can someone get your leg over 90 degrees if they hold it, or can you simply just not go over 90?  If they can hold it over 90 and feel comfortable, but can just not hold it there, this is a matter of core strength, not of flexibility.  To improve your core strength in the legs and muscles required to hold extension, I recommend speaking to your teacher.  Nothing explained in text will help you completely and well.  You need to be shown and corrected by a teacher, simply because I don't know if you're doing it correctly.  Strengthening incorrectly can lead to bulky, unattractive muscles.  It's unprofessional to be overbuilt like that, and it's a pain looking and feeling larger than you know you are.  So honestly, about your muscles, talk to your teacher and ask him or her to correct you and help you hold your extension.

If you physically can't get it over 90, you need to stretch your hamstrings rigorously.  Physically not being able to get your leg over 90 degrees is unacceptable to most decent schools.  If that's the peak of your extension, you need to improve your extension by stretching your hamstrings.

As for leaps, I'll give you a couple of pointers and frequent mistakes my students make when they come to me with this problem (regarding leaps solely, of course):

EPAULMENT

     Always keep your face lifted in a leap.  You will appear to jump higher and will be more confident to bring your legs out just like a professional dancer.  Leaps are a very mind-over-matter thing, if you haven't noticed -- doing them correctly is as simple as thinking them correctly.

APPREHENSION

     Tagging on to my concluding thought in the last point, being unsure of yourself before leaping is one of the biggest downfalls of dancers.  As I tell many of my students, don't think "Oh my God, I'm going to do a leap!", think more along the lines of, "I'm going to do a leap, and it's going to look beautiful."

BENT LEGS/SLOPPY TECHNIQUE

     When dancing, the students with this problem generally have poor technique and sloppy extension.  All you have to do is tighten up your extension and make sure your legs are clean and precise.

You weight is just fine.  In fact, you're in the ideal range for what professional companies look for in girls from 5'2" to 5'9".  Your weight will not impede your technique and dancing, trust me.  Your body can only help you at that size.

Hopefully I have satisfactorily answered your questions.  Please feel free to contact me if you have further questions or require more explanation.  Have a good day.♥

Answer 2

No Way that it is your weight. i am 150lbs and leaps are what i am best at. It could be your flexibility, practice your stretching. Try to get the most out of your barre work as far as strengthening your legs goes.

In grand battements use your stomach and bottom muscles and stabilize with your whole body. That will help you get your leg higher.

Good luck!

Answer 3

Definitely nothing wrong with your weight!! Probably just work on your flexibility a lot. Try and do good split stretches every day. Also, when doing your leaps, try really hard to stretch all the way through your legs and feet. Also, look up towards where the wall meets the ceiling; this will help you gain air.

Answer 4

ha ha ha i can do front and not side you have to get in the splits to do that at the hight you want oh and floor pruesure it has nothing to do with weight