I really need some good ideas for increasing my students' extensions. We are pretty good at getting them to 90, or slightly above, but how do we get further? Tips for specific exercises to work higher extensions(I want them above their heads!) would be great! Thanks a million.

well, besides stretching(of course), i teach them to develope properly. I use these counts(though of course you move through them, not stopping at each one).
1- sur le coup de pied(sp?)- wrapped if older
2, retire(lets say we're devant)
3/4 is lifting to your highest attitude position(this is the step most often left out)
5/6 extend
7 tendu 8 close
my rule is if you open your leg too early you have to hold it until 7 still, plus your leg ends up lower.
for arabesque. hmm, id do lots of back strengthening exercises. like where you lie on the ground, push up with both arms, then raise both arms to 5th and hold(trying to stay up), or the one where you lay flat on your stomach and lift both arms and legs at same time, then opposite arm and leg, then swimming.
backups
battement lents(sp)
stretching with leg on the barre, fondue, lift leg then straighten supporting leg keeping lifted leg high

thank you! We do lots of stretching for front and side, but the arabesques seem the trickiest. They tend to tabletop. I think I'll work the backups and the pushing up from the floor with the holding for the next few weeks and see if that helps. Great ideas!

This is from a newsletter email I receive. I hope that it helps...

With quite a few competitions and exams coming up, a common
question I have had this week is... "How do I get my legs higher
with a developpé?"

So many girls have good flexibility when stretching, but find it
hard to use this when dancing, especially with a developpé. If you simply practise the step over and over, often the result is often bulky thighs, or hip pain, with not a lot of increase in range. This will happen if you are trying to use the front of the leg to lift, rather than controlling the leg from the turnout muscles deep in the back of the hip.

* To work out all the true muscles needed to work the leg devant,
lie on your back, with your legs out straight and your hands on
your hips.

* Slowly pull the foot up into a retire position (feel your inner
thighs working!).

* Make sure that the hips stay square, and don't hitch or twist!

* Slowly unfold the leg as for a developpé working on controlling
the turnout from the hip, and lengthening the leg.

* You will not be able to cheat by tucking the pelvis in this
position, but the leg will feel a lot lighter, so you can focus on correct placement!

* Slowly lower the leg, making sure you use your abdominals so that your back doesn't arch!

* If you can control the leg and pelvis well with a developpé to 90 degrees without moving the hips, you will be able to achieve a much greater height of leg when you let the pelvis become involved (it has to begin to shift a little above this). However, if you are hitching and struggling to get to 90 degrees, you will find it very ard to improve beyond this point unless you really focus on improving your stability!

You can also do this for a developpé a la seconde (lying on your
side), but make sure that your hips start and end nice and square. You do need to rotate the pelvis slightly towards the end of the
movement, but this should be gradual, and only as much as you
really need!

If you practise developpé in this position, your muscles will learn how to control the leg much easier, and you will find that your range improves quite quickly! Then, when you practise in standing, everything feels a lot more familiar!

It is really important that you engage your true deep turnout
muscles when doing these exercises, to avoid overusing the front of the hip. Stage three of 'The Perfect Pointe Book' explains in
detail how to find and train these muscles, so make sure that you
go over to the site and get your copy. Your hips will thank you for
it!

theperfectpointebook.com . . .

Good Luck!


Perfect Form Physiotherapy, Suite 904, 121 Walker St, North Sydney, 02 2060,
AUSTRALIA

thanks JLL!