Stretches for the beginner dancer?

Question:I'm the least flexible 17 year old kid on the face of the planet. Can anyone enlighten me as to what I should begin stretching first, what kind of stretches, and how often if I want to become really flexible in the next four weeks? Btw, I'm not double jointed- does that really make a differance? Or can a stretch into double jointed positions eventually?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I'm the least flexible 17 year old kid on the face of the planet. Can anyone enlighten me as to what I should begin stretching first, what kind of stretches, and how often if I want to become really flexible in the next four weeks? Btw, I'm not double jointed- does that really make a differance? Or can a stretch into double jointed positions eventually?

ok the first thing is that being double jointed doesn't have anything to do with it! lol! it doesn't really exist! my advice is to stretch at least twice a day for like 30 minutes! i know that sounds like a lot but you will get sore if you don't keep doing it!

do all the basic things:

sit in strattle lean to left, right and middle! get to a position were you can feel it pulling, where it hurts but not that bad and hold it for a 60 seconds! remember to breathe!!! and switch between pointed and flexed toes!

sit with both legs in front of you together try to pull your toes and make your heels come off the ground... this is hard you may not be ready!...so reach for your toes until you can!

thats what i do!

Another thing you could do is practice pliés. Stand up in first position with your toes pointing away from your body and your ankles touching each other, hold the back of a chair or something around waist level, keep your back straight, your chin at a 90 degree angle, maintain your butt slightly squeezed and tucked under your body, and, keeping your ankles planted on the ground, bend your knees as far as they'll go. The key here is to maintain your body a straight and your ankles on the floor. Come back up and repeat.

You'd be amazed at the power of the plié. And the more you practice, the deeper your pliés become, and the more flexible your groin muscle, knees, behind knees, and ankles become :)