Ballet smart people...?

Question:okay i am really flexible and i am in ballet. i have an oversplit. but i seem to have a average developee (sorry i dont know how to spell that). my leg extends about 90 degrees but i want it wayyyy higher. im not sure is i need to strech more or if i need to work on my muscles. if you know how can you tell me. also i do oversplits every day five mins on each leg three times a day. what am i doing wrong. im all out of hope now.

http://s42.photobucket.com/albums/e343/b...
i want my leg like hers.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: okay i am really flexible and i am in ballet. i have an oversplit. but i seem to have a average developee (sorry i dont know how to spell that). my leg extends about 90 degrees but i want it wayyyy higher. im not sure is i need to strech more or if i need to work on my muscles. if you know how can you tell me. also i do oversplits every day five mins on each leg three times a day. what am i doing wrong. im all out of hope now.

http://s42.photobucket.com/albums/e343/b...
i want my leg like hers.

You definately need to work on your core strength, your butt, and your leg muscles. However, you also want to make sure that you strenghten the inner thighs and hamstings. Since you are turning out, those muscles are very involved in the lift. You should lift from under your butt and up with your inner thigh. It is almost like you are spiraling the energy from the underside of your leg around and out through your toes.

One way that I figured out which muscles I needed to strengthen was to put my leg up on the bar, and then lifting my leg up off the bar and holding for 8 counts or so and then resting, making sure that you are using proper positioning. Do this a few times on each side every time you take class. As you get stronger you should be able to lift your leg up more and more. Remember that this will be something that will take time, especially to build the kind of strength you need to support that high of an extension.

Some light weight training for legs, back, and abs once or twice a week will help speed the process, but remember to use light weights and do more reps, always stetching well after lifting. I often used to hear people tell dancers not to lift weights because it will make them bulk up to much, but as long as you do lighter weights and stretch this shouldn't be a problem. You have to lift a good amound of weight for the bulking up to happen, and do it to the point that you really have to push to do the last few reps. You should feel it afterwards, but should never get to the point that you cannot do anymore reps. If you do not feel it at all, then you won't be really making any progress, but you should not be completely sore. I started lifting in college for my dance team, and found that it improved my jumps, kicks and extensions, and I did not bulk up at all. We were also required to take ballet during that time, and despite the fact that I had been taking ballet for 12 years up to that point, the strength training drastically improved my developes in the ballet classes that I was taking in only a few months.

Whatever you do, make sure that you listen to your body and don't push it to the point of injury. As dancers we have to learn the difference between the good hurt and the bad hurt. Make sure that in your attempt to strengthen you don't strain muscles. Aim for gradual increases, not any sudden drastic changes.

Good luck!!!

since you say you are really flexible, it is probably more a matter of muscle strength. However, if you stretch and work on your hip and quad strength, you should be able to do it.

i know exactly what your taking about. i use to have that same problem, and its not the stretching. i talked to my ballet teacher about it and its all about building your leg muscles.

when you develope lift from underneath and really use your stomach and butt muscles.

if this still doesn't work ask your teacher about it. :) good luck!

developing strentgh in your legs will help you accomplish this. Also you might want to consider buying this thing that attaches to a door and helps you stretch that way

since your flexible...you need to srtengthen. there is a girl exactly like you in my dance class...you just need to strengthen so that you can hold your leg up there

The strength you need to increase your leg lift is in your CORE not so much in your legs. Try taking Pilates which focuses on core strength. Ballet is based on core (abdominal) strength as well as flexibility, so Pilates is great for increasing both. If you don't have time to add Pilates to your dance training, try just working your abs at home with sit-ups and crunches, etc. Good luck!

well since ur very flexible i dnt think flexiblitiy is a problem. i think its more of the strength. try to strenghen ur core and leg muslces. u can also trya few ankle weights and stuff . but u wouldnt use them for ong periods..only for a few months or your muscles will start to get bigger.

you need to work on your muscle strength, work on your stomach and hip flexors, espically your hip flexors will help you get your leg up
keep streching tho!

Do a developpe put one pound weights on your ankle. Hold it in the air for at least 2 eight counts. Go back and forth between legs. Holding takes a lot more muscle than doing a developpe and letting your leg drop. Do this a few times. Take the weights of and try it again, it should go a little higher, maybe like 1/2 inch to a full inch higher. It will take time but if every week you get it a 1/2 inch higher it will eventually get up there...keep working.