 the male dancer
written by balletboy             on 29.10. at 21:40:27 - as answer to: I NEED SOME BALLON!!! by Kyle atYou wrote about more height on jumps. It's certainly necessary to have strong muscles in the legs and calves, especially the latter. I try to work my calves as often as possible, and one exercise I like to do is very simple. Use something like a book or board for a platform that you can stand on with the heels resting on the floor over the edge while the balls of the feet are securly on the platform. Rise to half-toe then return the heels to the floor. You should start with a small height platform at first, and work your way up to a thicker platform. The platform allows you to take the muscles for releve through a greater distance against the weight of your own body. This seems to give the releve muscles greater strength and also helps the muscles of the feet that you use during releve. Of course the most important part of jumping is the plie. You need the momentum of the downward movement of plie to counter the upward movement of the jump. I don't know how to fully explain this in terms of the muscles, momentum, etc. (Where's dancingdoc when you need him!), but I've found that a good, strong and CONTROLLED plie has helped me with my jumps. Now to some bad news! I worked as hard as I could to get as much "ballon" and the heighest jumps I could....and ran into a problem....sometimes the steps and the music are too "fast" for high jumps. Even today I have a problem with jumping because I strive for the height I really like, but cannot get back-down in time to get to the next step. In petit allegro I love to glissade, jete, assemble, but will end up behind the music because I'm getting too much height. I have one teacher who yells "Stay closer to the floor!" So work on your "ballon" but keep in mind the plie and the need for NOT getting height when the music dictates it. Good luck! balletboy >I was wondering what any of you guys would suggest for getting more height on my jumps? not to brag but i have nice feet and they're doing just about all they can, my question is more about which muscles i need to work on at the gym...just the quads and gastros?? i try not to work on my hamstrings too much fear of losing the flexability i dont even have. any input is appriciated!!>~K~ Answers to this message: 
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