Comments on: Lifting Your Leg From Underneath and Other Impossible Feats http://danceadvantage.net/2009/10/21/leg-from-underneath/ Giving students, teachers, and parents an edge in dance education Sat, 11 Feb 2012 13:08:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Angie http://danceadvantage.net/2009/10/21/leg-from-underneath/comment-page-1/#comment-6746 Angie Sun, 18 Dec 2011 20:29:56 +0000 http://danceadvantage.net/?p=3763#comment-6746 Not the back, as in the spine..... but the 3-dimensionality of he lungs and ribcage?? I don't say this exact phrase to my students, but I do say things like "Refresh the breath and flow in your back space" or "try to distribute the energy throughout your torso, instead of pushing it forward into your front ribcage and sternum". I always took the phrase "breathe with your back" to mean allowing my back muscles (Traps, lats, erectors, etc.) to open as I breathed instead of gripping and only allowing breath to expand frontally. Not the back, as in the spine….. but the 3-dimensionality of he lungs and ribcage?? I don’t say this exact phrase to my students, but I do say things like “Refresh the breath and flow in your back space” or “try to distribute the energy throughout your torso, instead of pushing it forward into your front ribcage and sternum”. I always took the phrase “breathe with your back” to mean allowing my back muscles (Traps, lats, erectors, etc.) to open as I breathed instead of gripping and only allowing breath to expand frontally.

]]> By: Nichelle (admin) http://danceadvantage.net/2009/10/21/leg-from-underneath/comment-page-1/#comment-4460 Nichelle (admin) Wed, 02 Mar 2011 15:05:46 +0000 http://danceadvantage.net/?p=3763#comment-4460 Yes, that's a suggestion I often make in classes whether it's a grand battement, developpé, or grand rond de jambe. It's essentially something you think more than you do (you want to be careful not to actually lean or pull the hip out of alignment) but it does release tension in the hip and promotes more ease in the movement. Thanks for your comment! Yes, that’s a suggestion I often make in classes whether it’s a grand battement, developpé, or grand rond de jambe. It’s essentially something you think more than you do (you want to be careful not to actually lean or pull the hip out of alignment) but it does release tension in the hip and promotes more ease in the movement.

Thanks for your comment!

]]> By: mochazina http://danceadvantage.net/2009/10/21/leg-from-underneath/comment-page-1/#comment-4459 mochazina Wed, 02 Mar 2011 03:28:57 +0000 http://danceadvantage.net/?p=3763#comment-4459 one thing that i found helped release the hamstrings was when an instructor told me to focus on "stretching" the leg away from the body (along the line of the hip-toe in whatever extension was being attempted) as you extended. one thing that i found helped release the hamstrings was when an instructor told me to focus on “stretching” the leg away from the body (along the line of the hip-toe in whatever extension was being attempted) as you extended.

]]> By: Nichelle (admin) http://danceadvantage.net/2009/10/21/leg-from-underneath/comment-page-1/#comment-4005 Nichelle (admin) Sat, 18 Dec 2010 00:53:58 +0000 http://danceadvantage.net/?p=3763#comment-4005 I'm sorry it took a while to respond, Leslie, but I am so glad you found the article helpful. Thanks very much for reading! Happy Holidays! I’m sorry it took a while to respond, Leslie, but I am so glad you found the article helpful. Thanks very much for reading! Happy Holidays!

]]> By: Leslie http://danceadvantage.net/2009/10/21/leg-from-underneath/comment-page-1/#comment-3718 Leslie Tue, 30 Nov 2010 04:00:23 +0000 http://danceadvantage.net/?p=3763#comment-3718 Oh my gosh! Thank you so much for this article! I always have trouble lifting my leg over 90 degress, especially during adagios. I knew that my quads were clenching up, and stopping my leg from getting to 90, but I always thought that it was because I was not using by hamstrings enough. Fortunately, I gained a greater awareness of my hamstrings, even while I was just standing, but now I see why none of this was ever doing me any good. I will be sure to work on 'finding' my iliopsoas now! Thanks! -Sincerely, Leslie Oh my gosh!
Thank you so much for this article! I always have trouble lifting my leg over 90 degress, especially during adagios. I knew that my quads were clenching up, and stopping my leg from getting to 90, but I always thought that it was because I was not using by hamstrings enough. Fortunately, I gained a greater awareness of my hamstrings, even while I was just standing, but now I see why none of this was ever doing me any good. I will be sure to work on ‘finding’ my iliopsoas now! Thanks! -Sincerely, Leslie

]]> By: Chloey http://danceadvantage.net/2009/10/21/leg-from-underneath/comment-page-1/#comment-2354 Chloey Tue, 01 Jun 2010 00:05:12 +0000 http://danceadvantage.net/?p=3763#comment-2354 I myself have trouble just lifting my leg without moving my body from its center. I have no idea what to do to keep my hips in place. I myself have trouble just lifting my leg without moving my body from its center. I have no idea what to do to keep my hips in place.

]]> By: Nichelle (admin) http://danceadvantage.net/2009/10/21/leg-from-underneath/comment-page-1/#comment-2236 Nichelle (admin) Fri, 16 Apr 2010 14:49:43 +0000 http://danceadvantage.net/?p=3763#comment-2236 Interesting - I suppose this may be an image though I can't say it is one I've heard before... maybe just to bring about awareness of the back (a part of the body that dancers sometimes forget about). But yes, backs don't breathe, do they? :) Interesting – I suppose this may be an image though I can’t say it is one I’ve heard before… maybe just to bring about awareness of the back (a part of the body that dancers sometimes forget about). But yes, backs don’t breathe, do they? :)

]]> By: Alex http://danceadvantage.net/2009/10/21/leg-from-underneath/comment-page-1/#comment-2234 Alex Fri, 16 Apr 2010 13:59:23 +0000 http://danceadvantage.net/?p=3763#comment-2234 "breathe with your back" “breathe with your back”

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