101 Reasons to Study Ballet - #29 Stretch

Reason # 29 Stretch
Ballet is all about increasing your range of movement. Stretching is a form of  exercise in which a specific muscle or group muscles is deliberately stretched  to improve the muscle's elasticity and increase range of movement. Stretching should be done gently and slowly. You need to be able to stretch correctly, so you do not injure yourself. Hold the stretches, do not bounce, feel the stretch but not pain, and maintain proper posture with your back straight. Stretch at least three to four times per week but daily is best to keep your muscles flexible.  Some ballet teachers include a stretch at the barre or on the floor. Students will find stretching is useful to do before and after class. Most people think of a dancer in a split as the idea of stretching but stretching is so much more. Dancer need to stretch many parts of the body including feet, arms, back, hamstrings, hip flexors and calf muscles. The thing to remember about stretching - SLOW and controlled. Join a ballet class today and stretch yourself.
http://www.theballetcenter.org/

101 Reasons to Study Ballet - #23 Port de Bras

Reason #23 - Port de Bras

Port de bras is the French term used for the graceful arm movements of a dancer.  It is also a designated set of exercises designed to improve the quality of the arm movements. A complete ballet class will include a port de bras section.  The port de bras of classical ballet is meant to be a graceful and harmonious accent to the movements of the legs and the rest of the body. The correct execution of port de bras the arms should move from the shoulder or some teachers say the middle of the back and not from the elbow. The movement should be smooth and flowing supported from the tricept muscles. The arms should be softly rounded so that the points of the elbows are imperceptible and the hands must be simple, graceful and never flowery. Ballet dancers have beautiful arm muscles from working on port de bras. Join a ballet class today and develop great arms. http://www.theballetcenter.org/

101 Reasons to Study Ballet - #18 Learn 5 New Positions

Reason # 18 - Learn 5 New Positions

There are five positions of the feet and arms in classical ballet. All basic moves start from and end in one of these five positions. The basic ballet positions for arm and feet do not have French terms like most ballet steps they are simply known as First, Second, Third, Forth and Fifth position. All ballet steps and positions are done with the legs turned outward.

First Position - Your heels are together  your feet should be turned out only as far as is comfortable. It is important that you feel completely balanced in this position remember the goal is to move and keep the position. make sure your feet aren’t rolling forwards or turned out so far that you feel you are going to fall over. Arms are rounded in front of the body.

Second Position  -  Legs are turned out feet are apart.  The space in between your feet should be about one and a half lengths of your foot. Arms are out to the side but a little rounded.

Third Position  - Legs are turned out. The heel of one foot is placed next to the middle of the other foot. The heel of your front foot should be touching the arch of your back foot. One arm is rouneded up over head the other arm is rouned to the side.

Forth Position - one foot is directly in front of the other, turned out, with a space of about the distance equal to one foot’s length. One arm is rouned above the head the other is rounded in front.
Fifth Position - Your front toe should be in front of your back heel. This is the most difficult of the five positions. The goal of this position is to get your front foot so far across your back foot, so the back foot is almost hidden. You are in your best turn out so that you are standing front toe to back heel, and back toe to front heel. But to execute this position takes years of training unless you were born with perfect turn out. Some professional dancers never master this position perfectly. Arms are held over head rounded.

Learning ballet is a challenge. It is a contest of skill, strength, special effort and control. Join the challenge start a ballet class today. http://www.theballetcenter.org/