How do I gain leg strength and get my middle splits?

Question

Ok, so here's the deal.

I just graduated high school in May and I have been dancing since my freshman year on my high school dance team. I haven't had any studio classes other than the dance classes in school. However that hasn't stopped me from following my dream of becoming a dancer.

Ok now that you know who I am and what I am all about I need your help. I haven't danced since April and I need to get back on the horse. The two things that I need the most to get at the next level of dance is to gain leg strength so I can not only improve my turns and jumps but also I want to be able to hold my leg up like ballet dancers do. Next I want to be able to get my middle split, I have the right and left. Also is jogging bad for dancer's legs? Will I gain the wrong kind of muscle jogging?

Thanks for your answers

any dancers in Massachusetts email me

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Answer 1

Simple- take ballet.

To get your splits, stretch your legs out thoroughly every day, then go down as far as you can in middle splits and just stay there until the pain becomes too much. But, You have to do  it every day.

Answer 2

middle splits: lie down on the floor with your legs vertical against a wall. then spread them as far as you can. gravity helps! and push them down with your hands. lie like that for five to ten minutes every day, and you should get them in a few weeks depending on how close you are now.

jogging is not bad for dancers, but it is not very effective at building muscle and can be hard on the knees especially if you have bad knees like so many dancers do.

the best way to gain leg muscle is to just practice dance.

hope that was helpful!