How can I get my high kick higher and the leaps wider?

Question:My main problems in dancing are my high kicks and leaps. One teacher says to use my ab muscles to get my leg higher, another says to feel an energy flowing through my body into my leg. Well, my leg still kicks at about a 130 degree level. I want it about 160 at least in about a year. What can I do? I do a lot of floor stretches, but I don't think that helps much. How can I kick without hunching forward?

My leaps are also terrible. They are just bad, not even decent. Do you have any tips on how I can work on them? It's odd because I can do the splits on the floor but not in the air.

Thanks.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: My main problems in dancing are my high kicks and leaps. One teacher says to use my ab muscles to get my leg higher, another says to feel an energy flowing through my body into my leg. Well, my leg still kicks at about a 130 degree level. I want it about 160 at least in about a year. What can I do? I do a lot of floor stretches, but I don't think that helps much. How can I kick without hunching forward?

My leaps are also terrible. They are just bad, not even decent. Do you have any tips on how I can work on them? It's odd because I can do the splits on the floor but not in the air.

Thanks.

to improve btoh things, always warm up alot before you try them just to losen your muscles up.
to get higher kicks, stand with your back flat against a wall and your heel touching the wall and get someone to push one of your legs towards your shoulder, but keeping both legs stretched. aim to do this every day and you will eventually see an improvement in your kicks.
as for leaps, practice the splits every day (i know you said you can do them already, but try doing the splits and bend your back towards your back leg too.) when you do a leap, you have to just go for it, put lots of energy and power into it, which is where the people who have already answered are right about maybe improving your leg muscles slightly.
good luck, im sure you will get there in the end, x

leaps are based on how much leg power and thigh muscles you have. maybe toning your thighs can help ! don't worry, i had the same problem

Simple leg workouts and stretches will help with the high kicks and focus on the calves for wider leaps.

Yeah I agree, you need to build up your muscles in your legs a little and get the strength needed to hold it in place.

It is exactly my problem at the moment, so I am trying to strengthen my legs for leaps and kicks etc

hmm.. keep stretching so you can be more flexible. dancing is passion, and working with your body.. almost every bit of it. and that requires muscle, so you should work out.. do some push ups, v-ups sit ups, stuff like that to work your core.
on leaps, make sure you plie deep and pop up rather than going the distance.
focus on height and getting kicking that split in the air.

don't get discouraged though, be confident and keep practicing :)

do strengthen ur core this will improve everything. as far as leaps plie ur knees a lot when u prepare