Dance leapImproving split leaps is a something dancers work on consistently in ballet, jazz, and contemporary/modern dance classes. Whether you are practicing grand jeté or saut de chat, below are a few tips to get you flying in the air looking fabulous!

Preparation

Be sure to build momentum into the preparation. Whether you are starting the leap with a glissade, chasse or a step – there should be a large amount of energy expanded into the preparatory step. Pushing through the floor with a strong core and body alignment is sure to start you off on the right path for a strong leap. Articulating the foot before AND after the jump is vital to success.


Take Flight

Rolling through the feet in the preparation and the take off is a key ingredient for a strong leap preparation. When you push to go into the air, you should be pushing off a flat foot. Also, make sure both legs are splitting into the air at almost the same exact time. This will help to lift the pelvis evenly and secure a strong split position. While in the air, be sure not to lean to far forward or back. Keeping the shoulders over the hips and torso in alignment is important to achieve the right coordination and progression of the leap.

Visualize

Have a visualization of what the split leap is supposed to look like. Does it brush through 1st position like a grand jete or does it go through a passe developpe as it would in saut de chat? Does it look soft and float through the air or dart and shoot out with strength?

Breath

Don’t tense up in the upper body. Arms should flow through first position and then carry to the port de bras needed for the leap. They shouldn’t not be stiff or flail around at all. When you reach the height of the jump, take a deep breath to extend in the air just a bit longer. That extra lift from the breath will expand even more as you push for more height. The added lift is called ballon in ballet; meaning to float like a balloon.  Soften the landing with a strong plie to create a light look to the leap.

Stretch and Strengthen

Do you have a split on the floor? If not, chances are you won’t be able to articulate a full split in the air either. An equal balance of stretching and strength is key to accomplish a strong and beautiful split leap. Jump training is a great way to gain strength and agility for split leaps.

Start with two footed jumps in second position across the floor, next time add the knees in a tuck, progress to grand jetes, stags, then eventually saut de chat.

 

Shannon Thomas grew up dancing since she was four years old. Performing and competing is where Shannon shined, winning top honors throughout the state of Florida for her solo and group performances. Shannon continued her dance education at the prestigious, Oklahoma City University for four years where she studied under Jo Rowan, Robert Reed, Tiffany Van Der Merwe, Kelli Rhodes Stevens, Kay Sandal, Patricia Oplotnik and more. She studied all forms of dance, acting and voice, performed with the American Spirit Dance Company and took classes in business, dance pedagogy and choreography.
She began working professionally while still at OCU as a dance captain and performer, dancing in trade shows, theme park reviews and other various productions. After moving back to Florida in 2008, Shannon performed as a guest dancer with Surfscape Contemporary Dance Theatre and other local arts events as a dancer.
Shannon has been teaching and choreographing for the past 15 years and has had immense success in the studio training dancers in an array of styles from ballet, jazz, contemporary to hip hop and tap. Her students have gone on to study dance, musical theater, acting, and entertainment business at schools such as University of Florida, University of Central Florida, Florida Southern College and Ball State to name a few. Her unique experience as an educated performer, instructor and choreographer is what makes Legacy dance training stand out.
Shannon is passionate about teaching the art of dance and encouraging her students to work toward being their personal best on and off the dance floor. Our dance classes are structured around discipline, integrity, respect and professionalism to maintain a high standard in technique, style and performance.
Shannon’s Choreography has been honored at numerous prestigious dance competitions around the state of Florida. Her Choreography can be seen on the competition stage, at the Civic Ballet’s Nutcracker and Embry Riddle Dancing Eagles to name a few. She takes pride in providing the most up to date and modern choreography to give her students an edge, without over doing trends and keeping the dances she creates age appropriate and unique.
Shannon is the director and award-winning choreographer of The Legacy Stars Competition Team. The Stars are a National Award-Winning Dance Team and Performance Company featuring invited Legacy Dancers that have been training toward team placement. The Stars are proud to perform at various events around the Port Orange and the Daytona Beach Community, including Relay for Life, Port Orange Family Days, Volusia County Dances, Junior League of Daytona, The Domestic Abuse Council, Cannon balls for Kayne and more.

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