I want ballet dancer legs!

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  Dec 08, 2010 3:25 AM GMT

  Okay, I want to start working on my legs seriously this year. I know a lot of guys usually pass up leg exercises but I want to get my legs into shape. I was wondering if there are any ballet dancers on RJ that could give me a few tips to build up my legs. Thanks!

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  Jan 20, 2011 5:32 AM GMT

  try a bunch of plies and squats. =)

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  Jan 20, 2011 5:38 AM GMT

  Seriously.....if you can do a lot of biking and when you hit the gym...leg presses and squats...start light and progressively work yourself up to heavier weights....you'll see results in a few weeks....

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  Jan 20, 2011 5:43 AM GMT

  DanceNFightR saidtry a bunch of plies and squats. =)

  
  
  ehm, the things where you extend your legas forward and backward, sideways and in circle (have no idea what the names are)

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  Jan 20, 2011 5:44 AM GMT

  and jumps, jumps are good!

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  Jan 20, 2011 5:45 AM GMT

  Battements
  The hips, legs and feet continue to warm up through the battement exercises. Battement is a beating-like motion with either a bent or straight leg. There are five kinds of battement exercises: battement tendu, battement degage, battement fondus, battement frappes and the grand battement. You can perform each in three directions: to the front, side and back. Battements, like plies, help develop proper placement of hips, knees and foot turn-out.
  
  Ronds de Jambe
  Rond de jambe is a circular movement of either the entire leg of just the leg from the knee down. "Rond de jambe a terre" means on the ground and focuses on warming up the hips as well as building strength in your legs. "Rond de jambe en l'air" means in the air and focuses on warming up the knees in addition to strength building. Both should be done in an inward and outward direction for maximum warm up.
  
  
  Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/321785-warm-up-exercises-for-ballet-dance/#ixzz1BYFzKrPf

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  Jan 20, 2011 5:48 AM GMT

  BATTEMENTS:
  
  on the floor (tendu) to warm-up
  
  
  
  
  in the air (jete) these are heavy on the upper legs and all that
  
  
  
  

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• Bunjamon
  
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  Jan 20, 2011 5:53 AM GMT

  Anyone seen "I Love You, New York?"
  
  

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  Jan 20, 2011 5:54 AM GMT

  Ronde Jambes (on the floor).. I would recommend doing this with a "battement jete" so doing this circular motion with your leg as high up in the air as possible... it BURNS! Keeping the foot stretched also works the lower leg muscles well
  
  
  
  Ronde Jambe in the air (tough)
  
  

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  Jan 20, 2011 5:55 AM GMT

  Fondu's are very heavy because the leg never rests on the ground
  
  

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  Jan 20, 2011 5:59 AM GMT

  These are basic jumps, you can make these even better by jumping out of a full plie (all the way down to the floor) to as high as you possibly can... also, try adding weights while jumping
  
  

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  Jan 20, 2011 6:05 AM GMT

  If you live in a major metropolitan city, I guarantee you there is at least one studio that has open classes for adult beginning ballet dancers. At the studio I dance at (Alonzo King Lines Dance Center in San Francisco) there are definitely introductory classes for adults in both ballet and modern, and I have seen all types of people and body types take class there.
  
  That being said, ballet is a highly difficult dance discipline and you should only take it if you are interested in ballet itself. It is not a class you should take if you only want the fitness benefits because there are much quicker ways to accomplish your goals. "Ballet legs" can be accomplished by either free weight or weight machine exercises focused on the leg, with more reps (12-15 per set instead of to get the leaner but toned look. There are some good exercises posted here, but if you don't do them with the right ballet technique (hips squared, turned out legs, etc) you won't reap the benefits.
  
  That being said, I have danced ballet my entire life and think it is a ton of fun, so if you want to try it drop in a class. Just note that many of the biggest USA studios (Edge and Millenium in LA, Broadway Dance Center and Steps in NYC, Lines in San Francisco, etc) have misleading course names. "Beginner" labeled classes are NOT for beginners...they usually require a complete understanding of ballet terminology and technique (for example, BDC recommends you take beginning level classes if you have 2-5 years experience). The real beginner classes are usually marked as "Basic" or "Intro" levels.

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  Jan 20, 2011 6:11 AM GMT

  Oh, and also a new trend in fitness centers and gyms is "barre" classes. This is usually a modified version of the ballet barre (which is essentially the warm-up of a ballet class). I've never taken one, but I bet they would have some exercises derived from those you'd find in ballet class but for purely fitness purposes.

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  Jan 20, 2011 6:12 AM GMT

  Just do Pilates

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  Jan 20, 2011 6:20 AM GMT

  Go heavy squats and leg press if you want to put on some size on the legs, and include calf raises and leg curls while you're at it. Looks like you've already gotten some good advice on ballet, but your post makes you sound like you just want legs that look like a male ballet dancer's.
  
  Always observe proper form for squats, most people don't. Make sure your thighs at least reaches the parallel-to-the-floor point. If you're not used to lifting heavy, gradually bring the weight up a week (or two) at a time. Don't overdo it, you're suppose to feel the pressure in your legs and ass. If you feel a lot of pressure in the midsection or lower back, it may be too heavy for you at the moment.

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  Jan 20, 2011 6:31 AM GMT

  If he starts just doinng random ballet excercises, he could get hurt or train other muscles because he doesn't have the proper training, you could always try cardio clases in your gym, or any dance class would be a nice workout for your legs.

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  Jan 20, 2011 7:14 AM GMT

  @Pato_Rico: some of the videos you uploaded are horrible examples, and the tips you gave to him will only hurt him, I hope you dont do that for fitness.

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• Iakona
  
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  Jan 20, 2011 10:21 PM GMT

  I have dancer legs, and I have to tell you.....it's nice to have but a bitch to find pants that fit you....your thighs are always too big to for pants that are the right waist size.....GRRRR!!

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  Jan 20, 2011 10:27 PM GMT

  J450N saidOkay, I want to start working on my legs seriously this year. I know a lot of guys usually pass up leg exercises but I want to get my legs into shape. I was wondering if there are any ballet dancers on RJ that could give me a few tips to build up my legs. Thanks!

  
  
  Ditto! I am loving legs right now.

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  Jan 20, 2011 10:27 PM GMT

  Iakona saidI have dancer legs, and I have to tell you.....it's nice to have but a bitch to find pants that fit you....your thighs are always too big to for pants that are the right waist size.....GRRRR!!

  
  
  I couldn't agree more. I started ballet when I was 4 and continued well into college and beyond...though not a bad look the combination of large thighs and a bubble butt makes finding pants a real bitch sometimes.

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  Jan 20, 2011 10:51 PM GMT

  To get ballet legs, go and take a ballet class You'll be taken through the basic barre exercises through all five positions with pliés, grands pliés, ronds de jambes, dégagés, tendus, battements, fondus and so on and so forth.
  
  Not only will your legs look great, but it does wonders for your core as well. As well as the normal ballet class, also take a barre à terre, or floor barre class which involves a LOT of leg movements and in ways that will leave you a crushed and sore man by the end of it.
  
  I just started an adult beginner class for ballet last year in September. I especially love arabesques, though I can't do them very well at the moment!

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  Jan 20, 2011 11:02 PM GMT

  Iakona saidI have dancer legs, and I have to tell you.....it's nice to have but a bitch to find pants that fit you....your thighs are always too big to for pants that are the right waist size.....GRRRR!!

  
  
  Hahaha AMEN! My problem all my life! I have a small waist, but my butt and thighs are bigger than most guys my size. I can't wear normal skinny jeans... they have to have some spandex woven in. lol

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  Jan 20, 2011 11:11 PM GMT

  As far as the main question is concerned.... it is a life long discipline and the getting those ballet legs is more like a side effect of training, if you will. Those videos are how you get those legs, but it'll take a loong time. Those excercises are made to help you and your body connect, find balance, engage core and turn out.... not done as a form of muscle building. And you shouldn't do those excercises if you don't have the proper training or guidance, otherwise you could do damage to your legs. You can't see everything you need to know in a video.
  
  Like some others have suggested, focus on doing leg exercises. That's half the battle. A lot of gym bunnys don't do half as much leg work as they do upper body. And don't just do squats and calf raises. Keep in mind the muscle structure of the leg. The feet are small but don't forget them and where they connect to. Do excercises that utilize the full articulation of the foot. That'll help with the calves & shins, too.

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  Jan 20, 2011 11:11 PM GMT

  superdancerboy said

  Iakona saidI have dancer legs, and I have to tell you.....it's nice to have but a bitch to find pants that fit you....your thighs are always too big to for pants that are the right waist size.....GRRRR!!

  
  
  Hahaha AMEN! My problem all my life! I have a small waist, but my butt and thighs are bigger than most guys my size. I can't wear normal skinny jeans... they have to have some spandex woven in. lol

  
  
  And the store clerks get pissed at me because I always try on all the jeans they got on stock hahahaha

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  Jan 20, 2011 11:16 PM GMT

  Do you want ballet dancer feet too?
  

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