How do i improve my ballet a la seconde's?

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Question:

is there anyone out there that knows how i can improve my 'a la seconde's' ( extensions to the side)!?Www@QuestionHome@Com

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

just keep praticing that always works out because you will keep on getting better when u pratice more and more!.!. good luck on your dancing!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

stretch in the middle splits!. think of using the under part of your thigh whenever you're doing anything - from tendu to grande battment!. when you're stretching on the barre, use the oppposite arm to lift your leg off and stretch that way (as in, you're stretching with your right leg on the bar with your leg to the side and stretching toward your leg, you grab your right foot with your left hand and bring your leg upright!.) go to your a la seconde like your stretching and then let go, and hold it there for about 10 seconds, then stretch again for about 10 seconds, so on!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

practice balancing on both legs (one at a time) whenever you are simply standing!. In position, stretch your knees (it's okay to lock you kneecaps), stick your ankle out as much as you can!. practice making your arms look graceful whenever you can!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

The best thing in the world is a little exercise called the Wall of Shame!.

Lie on your side next to a wall, with your whole back and the back of your legs touching the wall!. Use your top arm to hold your balance, and stretch the other arm straight out and rest your head on it!. Turn both legs out as much as you can!. Slowly raise your top leg by tracing an arc with your toes on the wall - try to keep your toes touching the wall and your heel away from the wall as much as you can (it gets easier when you get higher)!. Go slowly as high as you can, and then slowly lower!. Repeat this a few times, then do the other side!.

Another thing to do, which is more for your supporting side and upper body than anything else, is to go to a barre (preferably one that's a little bit high), stand on demi-pointe, and put one leg up in a very high attitude position, foot flat on the barre (your hip will go up and you won't feel properly aligned)!. Feel very lifted on your supporting side, from your ribs (which will be displaced because of the height of your leg) to your hip (which has to lift because your pelvis is so tilted) to your thigh (which must be as turned out as possible) to your feet!. Do not allow your pelvis to tip forward or backward to compensate for the height of your supporting leg - it can tilt sideways, but only as much as is necessary for your foot to be on the barre!. Just stay in that position for several moments and feel the lift on your supporting side!. This is the feeling you want to have any time you are in your second position extension!.

Lie on your back with your arms out to the side!. Bring one leg up in retiré and extend it front, turned out (keeping your bottom leg stretched)!. Cross it ove the opposite side of your body slowly!. Then bring it back to the front!. Next, keeping both sides of your pelvis on the floor (this is very important or it won't be a beneficial exercise), open your leg to second as far as you can (it won't touch the ground), and slowly bring it down to meet your other leg!. Repeat this a few times before doing the other side!. You can reverse it too (raise your leg straight to the side, bring it front, cross it over, bring it back front, and enveloppé back down)!.

Every time you do something in second, whether it is a tendu or a jeté or a rond de jambe en l'air or a développé or whatever, feel very lifted on your supporting side, and feel your working leg rotating and stretched!. Feel that you are stretching from the center of your body outward through your head, your arms, and your feet!.

At all times, keep your belly button directly over the arch of your supporting leg!. It's very easy in second to put your weight over your heel, bu this will completely throw off your alignment (as well as make it impossible to relevé or do anything else from the position)!. Keep your weight centered so thatyour pelvis will be in the right place!.

Put one leg on the barre in second and do some pliés (keeping your alignment) and cambrés over your leg!. Grab the leg with the closest hand and lift it off the barre!. Do some pliés in this position as well!. Remember to do everything slowly!. After doing this a few times, let go of your leg and hold it, then slowly lower!. Again, make sure your alignment is correct!.

These are mostly strength and alignment exercises!. Getting the flexibility for a high second position is fairly easy (easier than front and back, at least)!. Just stretch your hamstrings a lot and throw your leg as high as you can in grand battements!. Make sure you are warmed up thoroughly (it's really easy to tear a hamstring), and when you are stretching, hold the stretch for at least 30-60 seconds and no longer than 3 minutes!. Never bounce in a stretch, but just hold it and slowly increase the stretch as you feel your muscles relaxing!.Www@QuestionHome@Com