achieve flexibility for dance

The dancers professionals require many skills and physical characteristics to achieve optimally perform. One of those characteristics is flexibility , and it is so important that it allows the best dancers to stand out from those of average level. A good dancer has a lot of flexibility and that allows for graceful movements. For example, the famous step of Michael Jackson's 'Moonwalk', it would not be the same without a little flexibility in the legs. It would be a rough move and much less graceful.

To achieve good flexibility , it is essential to train especially with this goal in mind. Exercises such as opening the legs, proper stretching and other work in the lower body area become key to achieving the flexibility required for each type of dance. Today we will analyze a little how the most important dancers in the environment work to achieve this necessary skill for a professional dance.

What is the use of working on the flexibility of the body?

Flexibility is important, both for a professional dancer and an amateur dancer who wants to be able to spread their legs effortlessly at an end-of-the-year show. Both amateurs and dance professionals should work on their flexibility on a regular basis to maintain it, so it is one of those exercises and workouts that you will have to do on a regular basis if you are really interested in dance.

What is needed is time and effort. Unless you have the quality of being hypermobile, to achieve good flexibility you will have to dedicate yourself. It will probably take more than a week before you can do the spreading exercise quickly. Also, if you force a leg spread without being properly trained, you can injure yourself.

The benefits of good flexibility are achieved when we also have a worked muscle. That is why the midpoint of dancers is adequate flexibility for graceful movements while working muscles to withstand the efforts of physical activity.

A flexible dancer can perform dance movements and positions more easily. The positions will be more fluid and the movements in general will look much more pleasant and concatenated. On the other hand, even those who don't dance can benefit from the flexibility. If you work in an office sitting for long hours, your back becomes stiff. With good flexibility exercises you can avoid back pain and so on.

What areas must be worked to achieve flexibility?

Flexibility does not depend on a specific area of ​​the body, but can be achieved in all limbs. Just look at the work of a contortionist to understand that, with proper training, the muscles allow us to work with highly flexible movements. For dancers, the most important parts to train are:

Legs . When thinking about the flexibility of the dancer, the first thing that comes to mind is the legs. The front and side opening movements are very common, and that is why this skill does not take long to come to mind . Classical dance takes advantage of the flexibility for the jumps, but it also allows a more sensual dance in the salsa and to perform all kinds of surprising movements in the practice of hip hop. The key is regular training.

Back . A common mistake when you first start dancing is not flexing your back . We are facing the trunk that serves as the basis for the dancer's posture, it allows him to support difficult positions when being correctly muscled, but also requires a level of flexibility for the appropriate bow for each type of dance. In classical dance the effort on the back is common, which is why the first dancers of classical companies always have a considerable level of flexibility.