How to Warm Up For Ballet

Head to the bar and warm up your feet before class begins

Ballet can work muscles in the body that have never been worked before. So, before you hit the floor for sets of pirouettes, posse turns and routines, head to the bar and the floor and stretch those muscles out. This is also a great way to prevent muscle pain at the end of the dance class.

Instructions

1. Sit on the floor and spread your legs. Stretch all the way to the right leg, then stretch over to your left leg. Try to touch your nose to your knee. Then stretch down to the floor in the middle.

2. Head to the ballet bar. Place one hand on the bar and do a set of ten plies and releves. Turn to the other side and do another set of plies. Then face the bar and do another set of ten plies. Do the same set of plies in first through fifth position on both sides.

3. After you have completed your plies, face the bar. Place your right leg in a posse, then extend it to the bar. Let your right arm follow your leg to the bar. Stretch it out. Then, bring your leg back into a posse and turn to the other side and repeat.

4. If you need more of a stretch, do tondues in first through fifth position on both sides.