Q&A for How to Stretch Properly for Dance

Flexibility is not a matter of whether you are or aren't. It's something you have to work on and practice everyday, or as much as possible. By doing simple stretches everyday, you will see your flexibility improve.

Each person's body is different. You may need to try some different stretches if your body is not responding to the ones you're currently doing.

Your weight shouldn't stop you! Even though being overweight can bring its challenges and affects a lot of us for various reasons (eg. low metabolism, overeating, stress, depression, etc.), you should never allow it to determine how your future unfolds. If you are still feeling insecure, most dancers do have very healthy lifestyles and train, A LOT. This means weight loss will happen if endurance and continuity are maintained. If you feel like your weight is holding you back, work on that first and love you for you. If you don't, you might feel uncomfortable dancing in front of others in a leotard, for example. Again, exercise and maintain a healthy lifestyle for optimum weight loss.

Yes, have a piece of fruit or a bit of granola for energy.

While you are up on your hands and feet, bend your knees so your butt is behind your feet.

Stretch twice a day and push past your limits (but not too much).

If you did it everyday, repeating that three times, you could be completely flexible in about a month.

Don't push yourself, but if you can roll down from your hips touching you ankles, then you are flexible.

Yes, of course! It's your dance, after all.

Dancers have all different types of bodies, but you should work hard to get in the best shape you can be to become a dancer.

Stand up and bend over at your waist and try to touch your toes. If you can touch them, you are fairly flexible. If you can do the splits, you are flexible. If you're in a dance class, you can also ask your teacher how flexible you are, and what he/she thinks you need to improve on, flexibility-wise.

Yes, it would be very helpful to stretch everyday. It will improve your overall flexibility and your kicks.

Stretch in the morning, afternoon, and evening. This should provide you with the most effective results, but feel free to adjust this to whatever schedule best fits your personal needs.

Lunges, lunges, lunges!!!! They are your best friend to for pelvis flexibility.

It's a very good idea! My sister used to be a lot bigger and she asked if she could join me on my weekly swim. Then after a few weeks she admitted she hates swimming, so she did other things that she did like, and now she's in great shape. If dance is more to your liking, then of course switch to dance. Life is too short to do sports you don't like. And, by the way, dancing is also cardio.

It does not matter if your tall or short. This way will help you to be more flexible.

Is it your hip or knee that clicks? If it your knee then this quite normal, but if you get any sharp pain then you should see your GP. If it is your hip, then what type of click is it? A normal click is completely fine, as long as there is no pain, but if it feels like your bone is catching and you are in pain then you may have dancers hip, or medically known as an Iliopsoas Impingement. This can be treated with physiotherapy, and is most common in ballet dancers because you have to stand in a turned out position. If that sounds like you then see your GP, I had it and it took about a year of physio to slowly rebuild the strength.