This is part 5 of a series on Stacey Nemours fantastic online
course package for dancers.
Check out the full series here:
- Stacey Nemour Dance! Pack – Part 1
- Stacey Nemour Dance! Pack – Part 2
- Stacey Nemour Dance! Pack – Part 3
- Stacey Nemour Dance! Pack – Part 4
- Stacey Nemour Dance! Pack – Part 5
- Stacey Nemour Dance! Pack – Part 6
- Stacey Nemour Dance! Pack – Part 7
- Stacey Nemour Dance! Pack – Part 8
- Stacey Nemour Dance! Pack – Part 9
- Stacey Nemour Dance! Pack – Part 10
- Stacey Nemour Dance! Pack – Part 11
- Stacey Nemour Dance! Pack – Part 12
- Stacey Nemour Dance! Pack – Part 13
Contents
Stacey’s Dance! Flexibility Makeover Power Pack contains several courses.
I will be working with/posting about them in the following order:
- 1 – Flexibility Makeover for Dancers held back by Tightness
- 2 – Extensions for Days
- 3 – Competition prep for Gymnasts
- 4 – The Cheerleaders Flexibility System
- 5 – Pre-Pro to Pro Flexibility Training
- 6 – Dance Pre Competition Training
- 7 – Extensions into Infinity
- 8 – Flexibility Makeover with Top Female High Diver (part 1 + 2)
- 9 – Flexibility Makeover for Rhythmic Gymnastics (part 1 + 2)
- 10 – Synchronized Swimmers Flexibility (part 1 + 2)
- 11 – Flexibility Makeover for Competitive Dancers (part 1+2)
- 12 – Secrets of Splits & Flexibility
- 13 – Secrets of Splits & Flexibility vol. 2
Note: use code ‘khalidadance’ for 10% off all Stacey’s courses, straps and course packages at flexibilitymakeover.com
Enjoy!
Course 5 – Pre-Pro to Pro Flexibility Training for Dancers
Course duration:
Module 1: introduction and pre-test (Stacey and Malena discuss Malena’s dance plans and her flexibility needs/issues to work on during this session) plus before pictures – 8:21 minutes
Module 2: 1 hour 8 minutes (the 15 final minutes combine flexibility re-tests with splits/oversplits exercises, bridges/backbends and extensions with Staceys stretch strap)
Module 3: split leap training – 3:48 minutes
Level:
All levels: warmup and first 2/3rds
Intermediate to advanced: last 3rd, ‘before/after’ poses and split leap training module
Props:
- A couple of yoga blocks (I use 2)
- Some clear wall space
- Optional (but recommended): a Stacey stretching Strap (or 2 if you want to intensify the exercises)
- Optional: A step stool (I used 2 yoga blocks instead)
Course type:
Recorded one-on-one coaching session via Skype.
Featured students:
Malena Ali (pre-pro ballet dancer)
What I like about it:
I like that even though this course is primarily aimed at intermediate/advanced level dancers, I was still able to follow a big portion of the course ‘as is’ – following Stacey/Malenas tempo with Staceys ‘live’ directions.
Next to that, thanks to working with the precious courses from this pack in the past few weeks, I was able to adapt the more advanced exercises (ie the ones near the end of the course) to my own flexibility level using props, and/or by substituting them with similar but easier exercises from other courses in the pack.
What it does for me:
I deeply enjoy the extra focus on releasing and warming up the feet, lower leg muscles, hip flexors, quads, hamstrings, outer hip/lower back thoroughly at the beginning of this course.
It makes it a perfect pre-class warmup for ballet/pointe class, even when I only have time to do the first 30-45 minutes.
It covers all the areas I need to work on most in ballet.
Effects after a few sessions:
I notice I am able to deepen my pliés, especially in 5th position (something I’ve long struggled with!) whenever I work with this course before taking ballet class.
It also feels really nice to work with it the day (or even two days) after pointe class.
It helps release my lower leg and foot muscles after they’ve been working hard, plus the deep hip openers feel amazing after intense (read: kick-heavy) Taekwondo practise sessions.
Last but not least: I noticed an improvement in my front splits alignment after doing this course a few times.
My back leg looks more straight, and my hips feel more squared – most probably thanks to the deep hip flexor/outer hip/lower back and quad releases .
My favourite exercise:
I love the ‘hip stretch with a block’ variation shown below at about 21 minutes in Module 2, used for deepening the ‘legs-up-the-wall turnout exercise.
Stacey takes a bit of extra time for this stretch, which I already knew (and loved!) from the other courses in the pack.
A variation of this same exercise includes moving the legs/hips side to side in slow motion to find ‘spots’ that need releasing. So nice.
Another favourite is the deep hip flexor release using a step stool (which I do with my front foot propped up on 2 yoga blocks instead of with the stool) – it starts at about 44 minutes in Module 2.
Happy stretching!
If you have any questions about this specific course, or about the Dance! Flexibility Makeover pack in general, feel free to contact me via the comments below.
If you have this course, too: Let me know what your favourite exercises are!