Splits??

[dancin_feet]

During my life of dancing, I have noticed one thing. To most people, dancers and non dancers alike, it seems to be unusual to be a dancer and not be able to do the splits. :?

I have never been able to do them even during my brief period of ballet training. I have been told it is because of high heel shoes that my hamstrings are non stretchable, but I have had the problem since I was 10, way before high heels came into my vocabulary. No matter how much stretching I do, I barely get to the point of touching my toes when sitting with legs outstretched. I feel like this is one limitation that I will never be able to overcome. :x Yoga has helped, but still not even close.

How much is it expected that serious dancers need to be able to do the splits? (I would class "serious" dancer as thinking that dancing is your life and if you could, you would make a career out of it.) I know it can depend on the style you are dancing, but in general........ ?

 

[tasche]

Most professional dancers have hyperextended knees and also loose hamstrings so there are physical attributes that come into play other than stretching alone.

Not being able to touch your toes usually means your hipflexors where they attach to the back are tight.

 

[Laura]

I'm not a serious dancer by your definition. I consider it to be a hobby that I picked up in my mid-30's. However, at age 39, I am now able to do splits. I did not set out to learn them, but my Pilates teacher insisted that I try it. We worked for about two years toward it. I did stretches for my hamstrings, my psoas, my back, and my groin. Last Friday was the first day that I went all the way down on my "good" (left leg in front). On the other side, I can get down to about 1 1/2" off the floor.

I'm not particularly blessed physically, I'm just a middle-aged overweight housewife. I do have good body awareness, though, and have been doing Pilates for four years now. My point is that if I can learn it anyone can -- given a methodical caring teacher who knows how to get you there.

 

[ratherbdancing]

I dont know if doing the splits is so much as important as just having flexibility. I think that is generalized that if you can do the splits, then you are probably pretty flexible, and that is whats important when it comes to advanced dancers. I personally can do the splits but it took a long time of working at it in order for me to be able to do them.

 

[dancin_feet]

I guess I am more flexible than the average non-dancing person. Ironically I am quite flexible down the front of my thighs, but not the back!!

I have heard that tasche that it is my lower back that is the problem. Too much sitting behind a computer for a living all day. I have tried heating the muscles with a hot water bottle before stretching, but nothing seems to help this. My hips are actually slightly twisted to the left - I found this out through yoga. This was why in my ballet training I had great turnout to the left, but not to the right!!

Could also be muscle memory of an injury I've had. Only time I have ever been injured in dancing is when I tore my hamstring doing split warmups in jazz class when I was young. Maybe the muscle remembers and just doesn't want to go there again!! :lol:

Oh well, I guess I'll just keep at it.

 

[Laura]

It's possible, dancin_feet. I don't know if there are any Feldenkrais practitioners where you are, but someone like that could help.