Leg Kicking in Ballet?

In ballet, when you kick to the back, how do you kick back without twisting your hips sideways?

Also, if i can do the splits, how come i can't hold my leg up to the sky, like doing the splits just not on the ground? is it because i don't do the splits properly?

Leg Kicking in Ballet?home theater system

you've gotten great answers- definitely listen to them!!

here are two great exercises to help you achieve higher battements and extensions:

1) get down on all fours; lift one leg up so the thigh is level with your back and keep the knee bent; slightly pulse the leg upwards in 3 sets of 10; then do 3 more sets of 10 straightening the leg then bending back; next turn out the raised leg (open the knee to the side) and repeat the 3 sets of 10 pulses; don't let your raised leg ever fall below your back level; keep your back flat-don't let it sway/have a curve- hold your abs in to achieve this; take a break in between each set but only a 10 or 15 second break; you should feel the burn in your hamstring and your seat muscles

2) lie on your back and raise your legs straight up so your body and your legs make a 90 degree angle; turn your legs out and pointe your toes so your heels are touching but not your toes; slowly open your legs to the sides like a straddle while counting to 8; then close them slowly again in an 8 count; repeat this 10 times; then do 10 of them double time (take 4 counts to open and 4 counts to close); cut the time in half again (2 counts open and 2 counts close) and again until you take 1 count to open and 1 to close; keep your back flat against the floor-hold your abs in to achieve this; make sure you are TURNED OUT!; you should feel the burn in your inner thighs

do these exercises and you should see an improvement in the height of both your battements (kicks) and your extensions because you will have the strength to go with your flexibility! good luck :)

Leg Kicking in Ballet?the grand theater opera theater

ummm have your splits has nothing to do holding your leg ( developpe). that takes strength and turnout ( to utilize your inner thigh muscles) of course having your splits help how high your leg can go, like in a grand battment ( kicking your leg in the air) but holding it has to do more with strength than flexibility,
firebird addressed the leg-holding issues...

As far as kicking to the back, in order to keep your hips straight, you may need to kick a bit lower. Concentrate on keeping your hips square (facing front) at all times, and only battement (sp?) as high as you can without throwing your hips out of alignment. Eventually, as you train more, your range of motion will increase to whatever the "maximum extension" is for YOUR body, while staying in alignment.

Good luck! Keep dancin' :)

Peace %26amp; pirouettes!!