How come I can do a switch front and second leap but no split?

Question:Okay, I've been dancing since I was 3 and I am just now in my right split. But I can leap all over the place. How come my splits don't just come? Plz help me!

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: Okay, I've been dancing since I was 3 and I am just now in my right split. But I can leap all over the place. How come my splits don't just come? Plz help me!

In the air, when you use the force and energy to do the splits, it goes up better because you dont hold iit for very long.

here are some practice tips for splits;

when i wanted to learn how to do the splits,
every night before i went to bed, i would turn on some work-out music. maybe a play list set for 10-25 minutes.

Then i would just get moving...warm up before you even attempt the splits if you are not very flexible. then just do stretches to touch your toes. Be sure to stretch standing up for two feet, then stretch right and left foot. make sure you do them for equal times. what happened to me was i was really flexible on my right but not my left(try to avoid that)

so after stretching your legs. go into a lunge to stretch your inner leg. remember stretches are not really very affective if held under 30 seconds.

so basically do lunges for a while.
what happens to most people, is that they can lift their legs in front of them up to their waist..but that is only half way. so you need to learn to stretch your back leg backwards.

its easier to hit a 180 in the air because you just have to hold it for a second
my splits didnt come until i was about 16

it is a whole different story in the air, plu severything is little more dramatized in the air so it may look like u can do the splits, but not really. all you have to do is practice everyday by stretching and sitting at your lowest point in each plit for 5 minutes, that's how i can do them now!!
hope i could help: )