5 Tips to help improve your leaps

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Strength and flexibility is required a lot for dancing. Stretching every day and working your legs will help with leg strength and flexibility which will make Leaps come easily.

 

Female ballet dancer

Here are 5 tips to help improve your Leaps

  1. Solid preparation is needed for a good leap this is your chance to build up momentum but be careful not to use all your energy here. Whether you are leading into the leap with a run or combination you should feel light on your feet. The last step you take before leaving the ground is a plie. This step is important for achieving the height you need to properly execute a leap.

 

  1. Leaving the floor with power starts with a good push from a plie. Push the  floor with the balls of your feet and your big toe when you jump forcing the floor away from you. Practicing this will strengthen the muscles in your feet and allowing you to jump higher.

 

 

  1. Look up as you go into your leap as this will allow the rest of your body to follow. Looking up will not only help you jump higher, make your leaps look prettier. Set your goals high and aim to reach the spot, strive your body to meet that goal.

 

  1. Quick and energetic split of the legs will give power in your leaps. Stretch your knees as much as you can by engaging your inner thighs and quadriceps. Engage the front leg quickly as you jump while the back leg must kick into the split, so that the legs are widest at the height of the jump.

 

  1. Landing cannot be overlooked, you may have all the stretch and strength needed for your leaps but without control your leaps could suffer. Preparing your legs to absorb your weight will make a difference when you land on floor this something you should be thinking about as soon as your feet leave the ground. Maintain good alignment and engage your core this will be your invisible support system. The goal is to land hit the floor softly and quietly as possible, be careful not to come out of a leap with your knees straight in result can cause an injury.

 

 

 

Practicing your leaps over and over are the best way to improve them. Good leaps just don’t just happen! It’s something that you train for and discipline yourself to achieve in practically every dance lesson. Remember to always practice proper technique and with sufficient repletion your muscles will get stronger.