Foot (ankle) flexibility?

Question

As a dancer, I would really like to increase my ankle flexibility. Are there any devices which I could use. Is passive streching dangerous or should I just use therabands?

Answer 1

HI there, Try tracing the entire alphabet with both your right and left foot to help loosen up your ankles. This really helps me when I am getting ready to do ankle intensive dance moves like "rocks" for my Irish Dance. :-)

Answer 2

try using theraband to try to increase ankle flexibility
and gradually work on stretching all the way through your feet
to measure if your flexibility is increasing use a ruler and place it on the top of your foot point your foot as hard as possible this way you will be able to see your progress
good luck!

Answer 3

When I was dancing ballet we used to make "foot stretchers", a 2x4 about 2 feet long wrapped with a towel and a piece of a belt tacked into the end like the strap of a sandal. Now they sell the same from dance shops. Be careful, your foot will be tender when you remove the stretcher and don't overuse it.

Answer 4

Footwork is one of the cornerstones of good ballroom dancing - but it doesn't mean only learning the steps, it's also where your feet go and in what manner. One of the coolest things appearance-wise to learn is to dance with one's feet together instead of apart. Your feet should actually lightly brush against one another as they move. This means you have to develop a good sense of balance, because -- let's face it -- it's always easier to balance standing and moving with your feet apart. Whatever dance you're doing, try not to kick with your toes up. This is good if you're doing Country Western dancing, but for Ballroom, try to point your toes down and to the outside. It looks better. Line dancing" is a great way to work on body and foot technique. I still hear how many people can't stand line dancing and I think it is because they haven't tried it recently. No longer is it just to country music, line dancing is to every kind of music from swing to top 40 pop. Its fun and it teaches us coordination. This is how some dancers learn to syncopate for west coast swing or cha, its a chance to work on feet instead of lead and follow. Its great exercise and challenging to say the least. Line has come a long way in the past 10 years or so. It may not be the greatest thing to sit and watch but it sure is fun to participate. Give it a try, work on foot positions, foot placements, arm styling, Cuban motion etc and you will find it improves your couples dancing as well.

Correct beat
Gentlemen: When starting a dance take your time finding the correct beat of music to begin on. Sometimes it helps to tap it out with your foot on the floor and start on the "1" count it is usually the easiest to find in the music.