Crossfeet exercises

Hi everyone.

I need to cross my legs much more than now.

Do you know any exercise which can be helpful? I think that it isn't enough just to cross them more during the dancing, cause I'm trying and it doesn't work. Maybe some of my muscles are not strong enough? Well, I'll be grateful for an every tip ;)

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Permalink Reply by Ceri O'Regan on November 22, 2011 at 9:56pm

Hmm, I'm not sure about exercises in general, but trying to stand with good turn out at different points during the day and holding it for as long as you can is really useful. Even if you're just making a cup of tea or something, stand in position and it'll become more natural. Good turn out means crossed legs anyway. My teachers have always said when dancing that (if you're facing a mirror) you should always be able to see your heels, and this forces you to cross your legs further. So, work on getting a better turn out and it should sort out your legs too =)

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Permalink Reply by Aisling on November 23, 2011 at 3:55pm

good turn out comes from the hips... sit and put the soles of your feet together, then GENTLY press down on your thighs to stretch out your hips and inner thigh area. if i can find a video of this i will post... another thing to do is walk purposefully practicing turn out. like, stand in fifth position (turned out) then just step forward placing your back foot in front but keeping that turn out, continue to step like this slowly to get the feel of it... the more you do it, the more natural it will become as the other poster said. flexibility of the hips though is super important :)

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Permalink Reply by Hannah on January 3, 2012 at 9:27pm

Hey Beata,

What I would suggest is to walk on a straight line and really try to over-over-OVER cross your feet while walking. Also before dancing you should stretch a lot and stand by a wall and really turn your feet out and therefore stretch your legs and hips and feet!

Also, when practising at home break your steps into mini pieces and do them really slow over and over again and try to get your feet out and toes pointed on every single piece.

I hope this helps, but as for turning feet out, pointing toes and all, one big rule always counts: PRACTICE! PRACTICE! PRACTICE! :)

xHan