 the male dancer
written by Dancing Doc at on 24.07. at 22:43:15 - as answer to: Just some random questions....... by orange ballet shoes (1) Your friend may be able to do splits because of his anatomy. Some exercies and stretching may increase your capacity, but please remember: people are build (anatomically) differently. You may not (physically) be able to compete with his splits -- but you can compete with him in your abilities. Try working on higher jumps, bigger assembles and jetes, etc. Don't force your body to extremes; you could injure yourself. (2) Turning is often a problem on one-side versus the other. Talk to many dancers, and they will tell you their turns to one-side are much better than the other. The glasses play a role. Make sure you have something to hold the glasses on your head. Contacts are good, avoiding this problem. Anthony said "concentrate on balance rather than speed." He's right. You can work up to the speed. Go back to quarter- and half-turns. Master the balance and control; then move forward to full-turns. Go back if the full-turns are a problem. I'd also say work on spotting. Once again, everyone's neck muscles are different, and your spotting may be different right versus left. (3) Calf muscle exercises -- releves are good, but you can make them better by modifying them this way: stand with the balls of your feet on a book (or two-by-four), an inch or two thick, with the heels down on the floor, the do the releves. This gives more extension and more force in the exercise. (4) Dancewear on-line - Lots of places. On the DanceWearDreams site, look at balletboy's recent answer. He lists several sites that are good, including the links from balletalert.com. Good luck! Keep working hard! dancingdoc P.S. You didn't say where you lived, but male dancers in class are relatively rare almost everywhere. I take adult ballet classes in and around Chicago, and often I'm the only guy in the class! >Hello! I am a 15 y/o male dancer, which is a rare thing in this part of the country. On to the questions! (1)Well, my friend is also a dancer and can get his splits (feet in second) almost at 180. HOW!?! I have tried to get there, but of course to no avail. Grrrr! Is it actually possible, or is he just a freak!? (That is a term of endearment, I swear!) (2)I also have a problem with turning to the right. I do wear glasses, but no contacts yet. Do you think it is because I have less visual focus? Or is it that I am just uncentered? (3)What are some good calf muscle exercises? (4)What is a good dance catalogue/online store for men? I think that is about it............ I guess. I am sure I will have more soon. Yep. Well, thank you for any help given. I really do appreciate it, as there are few men I can ask around here... Thanks again! Answers to this message: 
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