| Whether you are in a ballet class doing multiple | | | | exercises, then begin to challenge yourself with doing |
| releves, or modern class with an off center balance | | | | single leg rises with the ball of your feet on the |
| or jazz or ballroom dance - ankle stability and | | | | bottom step of a stairs, or off of a thick book. |
| strength is essential. Practice the following 2 tips and | | | | Allow your heel to lengthen below the book or stair |
| improve your balance and ankle strength! | | | | and then slowly rise into your releve, sometimes with |
| First start by practicing balancing on one foot (in | | | | a straight leg, sometimes rising from the smallest of |
| parallel and in turnout) while turning your head and | | | | bend, or plie, of the supporting leg. Do both legs |
| doing simple arm movements. As your balance | | | | singly, and count where you begin to feel the fatigue |
| becomes better with that variation, then add small | | | | - is it after 5 releves, 10 releves? I don't think it is |
| movements bending side or front with the upper | | | | asking too much for you to work towards doing 15 |
| body, which definitely challenge your balance. Try | | | | releves without much fatigue. |
| timing yourself and balancing on one foot for up to | | | | Pay attention to how you are rising, remembering |
| three minutes at a time. You'll be amazed at how | | | | that you want to keep the weight evenly balanced |
| long three minutes can seem when you are on one | | | | on the foot, between the 2nd and 3rd toes, NOT |
| leg! | | | | shifted more to the little toe side, or the big toe - |
| After some successful flat-footed balancing | | | | which will place you into supination or pronation. |