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Top 5 Worst Ballet Habits That Can Ruin Your Technique

05/16/2018

When you want to get the most from dance class, besides just looking good in your leotards for girls and perfect your technique, you need to have good habits. Otherwise your turn out, jumps and extensions will be impacted and not in a good way. So what are some of the bad habits in ballet that can ruin your technique? Here's a look at five of them:

Bad habit #1: Nervous energy.

When you have too much nervous energy and anxiety during dance class and before big performances, it can take a toll on your body physically, as well as your technique. When you're too excited, it takes up a lot of energy and you therefore can't rehearse or perform your best.

That's why it's important to try some relaxation techniques before your rehearsals and performances if this is a problem for you. For instance, you can try deep breathing techniques to relax you, focusing on softening your muscles as you exhale. When you're moving and in class, truly focus on each step and body part you're using during it. This can help you to improve your stability and also help you to find a more calm and relaxed place from which to dance.

Thanks to nervous energy, you might also have tense body parts. This is especially dangerous if it's your neck, which can not only be an issue when it comes to aesthetics, but can also contribute to larger technical difficulties down the line.

Bad habit #2: Poor head placement.

Another common bad habit among dancers involves the placement of their head. Their neck can often be brought forward too far, which means the curve of the spine is then straightened.

This can have a negative impact on your dancing technique for several reasons. First, it adds weight to the front part of your body, which ends up making you off balance and can also make you look a bit wobbly when dancing. Not only that, but it adds extra weight to the spine, which means additional stress. In fact, every extra inch your neck is moved forward equates to about 10 extra pounds of pressure on your spine. This then takes away from your power, stability and force when you're dancing, detrating from the way you move.

Bad habit #3: Knuckling your toes.

When you want to improve your arches, you might be guilty of this third bad habit. With toe knuckling, you end up with crunched toes that can actually cause damage to your feet. Not only that, but they can no longer fully support your body's weight and can even result in cramping, as well as pain.

In addition, while knuckling your toes might help you to balance your body, it's going to bring a sense of tension to your dance technique. But when you unclench your toes and relax your feet, your dancing can enjoy more easy movement. You'll also be able to improve the quality of your pointe work and have better weight transfers between movements.

Bad habit #4: Poor arm placement on the barre.

When you don't grip the barre correctly, it can impact all kinds of technique, including your turnout. To make sure you are properly gripping the bar, your elbows should be forward slightly, rather than behind you. When you lift them off the barre, you should automatically be in second position. However, if they're off by even the slightest amount, then it can impact your balance and technique. When your elbows are behind you, that also means that your shoulders are forward and your body is in the wrong rotation, impacting your turn out.

Bad habit #5: Not listening to the music.

If your movement and the music isn't aligned, then your performance is going to look out of balance, even with the most precise dancing, the best technique and the cutest leotards for girls. However, when it comes to musicality, sometimes it can be hard to learn. So if you're having an issue with it, don't lose hope. Just know though that movement and music go hand in hand, it's important to eventually get it right.

In your efforts, make sure you're not just hearing the music, but really listening to it. Think about how the different combinations can be underscored by the music that's playing. Also take into account both he beat and the melody so that you're not running ahead or behind when you're dancing. It might take some time and practice. But when you give it your best effort, it can truly impact and improve your dancing abilities. It can also greatly improve your aesthetics when you're on the stage.

Looking for leotards for girls to look your best on stage?

Once you overcome some of these bad habits that you might have, you're going a long way in looking better on stage and in the studio. And if you want to elevate your appearance even further, consider shopping for new leotards for girls at Just for Kix. We offer a wide variety of stylish options at great price points to keep you beautiful and comfortable when you're dancing. Shop Leotards Here