How can i do a higher arabesque?

Question:i am in a ballet routine and at one part i have to hold an arabesque for a few seconds. how can i make myself not lean and get my leg higher? thanks.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: i am in a ballet routine and at one part i have to hold an arabesque for a few seconds. how can i make myself not lean and get my leg higher? thanks.

Arabesque is purely back strength and a bit of back flexibility. You need to work on holding your leg as high as it can go without pitching your torso forward for as long as you possibly can, then try and lift it even higher. You should be lifting your leg and torso toward each other, not just lifting your leg and lowering your torso. Your back should feel like it's on fire or splitting apart, and you should be very sore for a couple of days. Then do it again as soon as your back can handle it. I'm working on my arabesque this way, and I improved at least 4 inches just the first time I did that.

Of course stretch every day... but practice laying on the floor with ur legs up against a wall. Bend ur right leg, and cross ur left ankle over ur knee. Works great!!!

Hun ...what you need is not only better flexibility ...but stronger legs.

For the flexibility ...try stetching with weights on your legs. Or try resting in on something high ...then pushing downwards. It works great !

Ask your dance teacher for some tips too ...i'm sure she'll be thrilled to fine you're taking this so seriously.

Good luck sweetie =D

also work on back strength and flexibility

you need to tightin your thigh muscles

you need to stretch a lot. that;s what we do in ballet class.

I myself don't have that high of an arabesque but I think that what I need is a stronger back to hold my leg up. To do this you could try the superman stretch. Lie on your stomach with your feet and arms straight out. Lift your arms and legs off and hold for 30 seconds, come down and repeat after an eight second break. (you can use whatever times work best for you) When in this streach you should look like superman flying and you want to get your thighs off the ground as well as your chest. For girls it kind of hurts your pelvis bone so make sure you have padding.