Improving Your Arabesque | Kathryn Morgan

[@LindseyDances4God]

I LOVE how you are emphasizing the importance of strength rather than just flexibility. Very key.

[@BeriiLove]

Omg Kathryn where have you been all my life *.* These videos are heaven sent!

[@CaitlynHynes]

I started ballet in college so although I have the flexibility for a high devloppé, I don't have the strength yet. It would be awesome if you could do a video on developing strength for extensions, especially in a la seconde. I also second the request for petite allegro jumps. Thank you!! :)

[@annainchausti]

I had started to work on my arabesque doing a series of stretches and strengthening exercises and my lower back started to hurt. I just now realize I was probably doing it all wrong. Thank you!

[@monical9241]

Subscription of Kathryn Morgan is very necessary : ) I am always confused with arabesque. Some tell me to take the load on your lower back; Some tell me to open my hip and twist my spine; some tell me to keep my hip square; some tell me it is the flexibility of my Psoas Major. Now it is back strength!! I guess you need a bit of everything to form a beautiful arabesque line? Apparently the Russian Arabesque is quite different from the British one. The former allows your hip to open only as much as you need to get your leg higher and allow your standing leg parallel; the latter focuses on keeping hip square and standing leg turn out.

[@lavelap5]

Kathy is my quarantine savior! I moved to a new city just when lockdown started and with the pressure of starting in a new dance school. All her excersises motivated me and helped me improve to be confident enough to dance in front of entirely new people. Thank you Kathy!

[@juliette3597]

That leo looks amazing! Also, you look like your still slimming down for sure. Very noticeable. Congrats on reaching your goals!

[@gerbertela]

8 years later - thank you for each and every one of your super helpful videos!

[@HelloxHayla]

Is that a room of pointe shoes next door?

[@rachaelhirst7818]

FairestOfThemAll it looks like it lol!

[@soulful_mind]

So jealous 😂😂

[@n.dehart8485]

Yay. I am just a casual dancer, but I often have lower back problems due to some old sports injuries. I was very happy to see the back strengthening exercises. Thank you (:

[@tintedframes]

Ah! I'm so glad I found you. I've been trying to work on my Arabesque for a while but I was never too sure which muscles I've been needing to improve on. Love your channel!

[@tabeam5463]

Dear Kathryn I really loooooove your workouts. They helped me so much to improve my technique etc. It would be so great if there would be a new barre or a kind of a center workout. Thank you so much for doing this channel, otherwise I would not have been improving the way I did untill now.

[@alanblazek1653]

...your basic barre, attitude, and this have been helpful. Want to sign up for basic class. Happy easter!

[@wubblyfiggles5557]

I unfortunately don't have natural turnout, and I end up rolling all the time in order to get into a full turned out position, and sometimes it will really get to my knees. Do you have any tips for this? Thank you for this video, and everything else you do, you're a true inspiration

[@LadyOcon]

Me too. They tell me to turn out but in the end I move all my hip. I always do it wrong even though I try not to.

[@wubblyfiggles5557]

Yes I Have heard things like that. but now if I try and use my natural turnout, I would be lowering my standard, and my teacher would only tell me to turn out more.

[@arabellat5133]

Start using your natural turnout. DON'T roll over! I can relate. At first, it'll make you feel lousy. But the strength you get from real turnout will benefit you so much. Just start with what you have. You can push yourself a little further every day, but don't roll over, especially if it is causing you pain. Try talking to your teacher, too. Then they'll understand why you are not pushing your turnout as far.

[@Tigerheiress]

just use ur natural turnout! beautiful alignment and strength triumphs forced turnout and bent knees any day

[@CynfulExotics]

For the Q&A - How to help with back pain and back spasms and any tips on how to numb toe pain from ballet besides using cushion?

[@arabellat5133]

I have seen one of my classmates using the "liquid" inside pain killer pills and putting that on their toes. I haven't tried personally, but it's an idea.

[@VegetoStevieD]

I need to make a confession. Ballet is very relevant to the training I do, despite the fact that I have never had any interest in the dance aspect. The confession part, for this video, is that I have never heard of 'Arabesque' before. After I clicked the video, I forgot the title, and for the duration, I thought you were saying 'air-bus' the whole time. :O "This is your 'air-bus." I don't even want to admit the next part, that I actually found a way that it still made sense to me, so now I'm working on my 'air-bus' :D

[@VegetoStevieD]

gotta have that air bus

[@daviddunham8869]

What training are you doing? I'm trying to apply this technique to strengthen the efficiency of uchi-mata in judo, I'm curious if you're up to the same thing.

[@VegetoStevieD]

***** Uh, well I studied qigong and neigong for about 15 years, and for the last 2.5 years I've been practicing mostly Chinese Kung Fu (qing gong based Baguazhang mostly, but also some other things).

[@daviddunham8869]

Khechari ah very nice, another martial art application.

[@helga_kf]

thanks very much! I'm in intermediate level in ballet and I'm still working my arabesque!

[@marianbarko4945]

You are a very good teacher

[@lartpourlartana]

You are literally goddess of ballet tips! Again, thank you so much for putting these videos up! Your turnout exercises made such an imrpovement in my turnout, it's unreal. I can't wait to see what these do to my arabesque.

[@aurore891]

You're the best teacher EVER!

[@lozenrobinson1755]

My legs aren't hyperextended, so my lines are only mediocre. Are there any ways to improve this?

[@matildaarchie2670]

i know this was 6 years ago and I'm not a professional at all but you could look up how to pull up through your knees for ballet that might make your legs look longer and your lines look nicer, but you don't have to take my word for it if you don't want to.

[@chaehyunlee4484]

Upper Back! That's the key!! Thank you very much!!

[@BallerinaBadass]

Hey Kathryn! I loved watching this - Ken Ludden at Margot Fonteyn Dance Academy gave me similar advice a year ago, and it is so good to hear it again from another perspective. I am into my 2nd year of getting back in shape after a 12-year hiatus, and just finished performing the lead in "Giselle" last month - so much improvement, but still a long way to go :). This video really helps me and my long-a$* back and legs!

[@katemovingmusic88]

Wow!!!! This is wonderful, so on point! Thank you! I'll enjoy learning from your other video tutorials too! Really helpful! thank you again!

[@edenheille9214]

Thank you for posting this! I think it will really help. I have a question for your Q&A: what are some ways to raise money for summer intensives since the costs are so high?

[@briarrose5208]

Thank you! This is hugely helpful! I’m going to see if you have a tutorial for frappes, how to gain speed without losing technique. If you haven’t yet done one, pretty please?

[@pinupgirl00]

Thanks a lot Meghan! I love your videos! xoxo from Tucuman, Argentina!

[@stephellis7456]

I love the way you explain things

[@daffo595]

Are you psychic? Every time I think I need to work on something you put up a video for it! Could you also introduce some back stretches to relax the back? After arabesques my back always hurts Do you have space to give us tips for leaps, too?

[@arabellat5133]

Your back may be hurting because you're sinking into your lower back (a problem addressed in the video). You could fix this by a) compensating in the body or b) lowering the leg. If you don't want to lose height, work on moving you chest up and out. You may want to move your chest further than you think. And make sure you keep your ribs in and stomach engaged.

[@daffo595]

Arabella Tan thanks! but you still need to stretch and cool down your back after

[@arabellat5133]

Daff OOn Of course. ^_^ But if we can prevent it that's even better!

[@clairebear5279]

Child's pose! It works miracles! There's another one which I call "the snail" where you lay on your back and curl your legs over your head so that your stomach is kinda in your face & your legs are behind your head on the floor, then you bend and straighten your legs to get a hamstring stretch too

[@JoyceLingful]

Hvin my Intermediate Foundation in this cmin May, this will def help my adage, thx u. U had slimmed down a lot, keep it up and hope to c u back in stage! Still always stay healthy and happy :)

[@emmaociee]

Brilliant! Everytime you make a video with exercises, I think to myself "well, duh!" They're always so simple, but so profound and helpful!

[@RubyClaireOnline]

can you make a video on how to improve your front and back attitudes? that’d be great, thanks!!❤️

[@hupfer7047]

you look so beautiful and graceful doing these moves. I feel like a male dog lifting his leg while doing it.

[@maureenseel118]

Super helpful...hoping to work on this tonight or tomorrow... My lower back is so tight when I try to get my leg any higher but like you said the lift needs to come from the inner thigh, not the lower back or hip.

[@thefreedomfairy]

Please do technique tips for petite allegro jumps! My most difficult ones to do are briese and cabriole!! Mostly briese tho

[@charlik1ng]

Please do a video for this series on how to get the splits !! I need help haha ☺️

[@LillianTreann]

Hi Kathryn! I love workout/barre videos and I think you have the most amazing in home studio! I was just wandering where you got your ballet floors! Thank you!

[@tinydancer122698]

You've slimmed down again, and you look great!

[@lisagray7911]

This is so helpful! Because I have the flexibility but I don't have the strength to keep it there. Please do a white swan makeup tutorial, and a midsummer nights dream fairy type performance makeup tutorial. My questions are how did you start your professional career and what was your favorite part you every played

[@HelixFearless]

Thank you so much! You have videos about everything I need to improve ♥

[@Sofitafi]

Please do a video of improving assemblés, I have trouble with it, sometimes I get confused between an assemble and a sissonne idk why hahaha, and a video of an entrechat because I kinda look terrible doing it, my feet don't cross! Pleeease I would really really love you, btw I love your videos

[@n33daccounttocomm3nt]

Hello! Thank you for your videos! They are very helpful. I was wondering if you have similar tips on devant and a la seconde positions, especially on which muscles to use in a developpe or a lift from tendu. I often find myself using the upper thigh muscles too much. I have a slight idea of my weakness which is the lack of activation in the chest and standing leg. But when I do engage those areas, I find myself in a very tense state: there is a lack of connectivity in the body and I just feel like blocks of muscles. Thanks again for your videos!

[@hellofun666]

Love your hair and everything in this video!

[@andreaglzgrauzas3669]

You earned a subscriber!! Your tips are amazing. Thanks a lot!!!!

[@gigip.1422]

Perfect! Thank you so much!

[@dancerocks120]

Hi Kathyrn, I have a question for your Q&A. Ok so this summer I want to take ballet at this studio that seems a lot more professional and more of a challenge for me than the one that I dance at now. I don't know if I'll fit in there because I'm an awkward person and I'm not good at making new friends. So I guess my question is, should I try it or not? I love your videos dearly by the way. ~Ana

[@nathaliefriederich3092]

Similar to this video can you do one on attitudes derrière and devant? I'm working on aurora and want to improve my attitudes in general.

[@isabellagudmundsen]

I would love some petit allegro tips! I find that I struggle with entrechats and royales. Do you have any advice? Thanks for all your great videos!

[@ayepol]

Would love some tips on improving penchés... Love your workouts and tips. I'm using elements from your videos on a daily basis as part of my pre class warm up. Thank you do much xx

[@emmagoodman8376]

Can you please do a tutorial on the hairstyle you wore this video? I love your videos

[@aliyasharp9281]

Fantastic video! Helped so much!! Thank you!!

[@cheskasarausad]

Great stuff! keep it up, so helpful!!

[@MadisynY]

Hi Katie! Thank you for posting this video! I had a question: when we talk about lines in our arabesque, are lines typically about having a good upper back and a high arabesque? Could you tell me about what makes good lines? I feel like my hips and back restrict me from a high arabesque. Would tight hips affect that? Thank you!

[@dancerose7555]

Can you do a video on promenades specifically with your leg in a la seconde

[@sandrae9799]

Thank you so much! Your videos are very helpful😊

[@mariayershov2356]

This helped me so much!

[@density31]

Could you do a video on holding your leg in second posistion?

[@cmcloseful]

Awesome video, thank you!

[@PerfectBun]

Thank you, Katie! This helps a lot!!!

[@natalietan2410]

Hey Kathryn! You're looking amazing and congrats on that! I have a question for your Q & A How can I lose weight with a tight schedule, and what has your routine for getting into shape without bulking up been? Thank you so much for being a great inspiration to me

[@leabeauty386]

Thank you ♥♥♥ This Video is very helpful♥♥♥ you are perfection to me!

[@blank6158]

Wow i cant belive my mary jos place was on u tube yay i was it the 2015 parade fo competition

[@lyvettefauntleroy7924]

Thank you! These tips are perfect for my daughters. Do you have any tips on how to get better height on jumps?

[@andreablackman1063]

Can you do a video on getting over your box en pointe?

[@lomejordelamusicacristiana4474]

I find my left leg goes much high in arabesque and when my right leg goes up I feel it’s very tight on my lower back on that side

[@balletlau]

Do you have any tips for increasing lower back flexibility and strengthening the lower abdominals in particular? Those are some of my biggest challenges in arabesque.

[@missemma111]

Would you be able to do a video on just attitudes in general? Whenever I do an attitude to the front, my foot tends to dip and becomes lower than my knee if you know what I mean. If you could help that would be great!

[@BallettmitKira]

Oh, thank you so much, this is very helpful! I realized that I was leaning to the front all the time like you demonstrate at 1:25 and wasn't using my inner thigh correctly, it's so much better now! But somehow I still tend to lean forward like that when doing arabesques higher than 90°. Can you help me with that? :)

[@amandanance919]

It's natural for your torso to lean forward a little in arabesque. Think more about lifting your leg and just let your torso follow it. As long as your torso isn't parallel to the floor then you're good haha

[@luciak9999]

Hi Kathryn! I have 2 questions for your Q&A. First, I was wondering what you think of the turn boards that have become so popular. Several of my friends have them and so I wondered if you think they really help getting multiple turns. All of my teachers always say I have very good balance for turns yet, I can't consistently get clean multiples. Do you think a turn board would help with this? Also, where did you get the pieces of dance floor you have in your home studio, how can the rest of us get some? I love your videos and Instagram account so much! You are so inspiring and helpful! 😘

[@TMoore1202]

A question for your q&a: what sorts of pains/ discomforts are considered normal after wearing pointe shoes for awhile? I've gone through several different brands of pointe shoes, looking for the ones that fit me best. Each one has had it's own small downfall. And I've tried all sorts of different toe cushions and even gone without any cushions. Recently I've been wearing Gaynors and I love them, but the only downside is I keep getting bruised toenails (big toe). Is this considered normal when dancing for about 5 hours a week in pointe?

[@karelyslopez8059]

Can you do a video on jumps and how to improve our plie before and after the jump Before because we need that plie to go high and after so we don't get hurt that would help a lot

[@evagrace5292]

hey! I sadly need tips for higher leaps (double stag, grande jete soude chat, etc)

[@ballet901ami]

help with back bends and circular port de bras??

[@isabelscabuzzi3949]

thanks

[@bethanyjemie5744]

I know I’m like 3 years late for commenting but does anyone have any tips for arabesques on pointe? I have audition photos for summer intensives coming up soon and was just wondering for some suggestions. Love your videos Kathryn!!

[@sofiatovarrodriguez]

techniqiue for attitude pleaseeeee

[@ThomasHunter11]

Dear Katie, my ballet teacher has recently told me that I need to gain a little bit of weight in order to stay healthy. While I understand why she has told me this, I'm not sure how to gain weight healthily and without gaining too much. Could you help me?

[@ainereeves357]

I really struggle with holding my arabesque in demi-pointe (I'm not on pointe yet) I can hold my leg up but my ankle just smacks down to flat if i do get my leg up high

[@bearvillebear1468]

Keep strong. Dont forget that despite the struggles and madness in this world today, God is full of justice, mercy and love. Justice said we broke His perfect law - causing the world's previous perfection to be destroyed - and therefore we deserve Hell (like a punishment in any legal system but this is eternal as His perfect law is eternal too). Don't think you fit in that category? Ever done one of these?: lying, stealing - regardless of how small the object EVER, hating others - which is murder in God's perfect law, lusting (plus God sees our entire thought life). Justice says "the soul that sins shall die" - if we break one in thought/word/deed it's as if we're guilty of all of them. Quite simply, living by the law (which is doing everything perfectly) is impossible for sinful humans . The law shows us that 1. We will die in Hell if we fail to follow it and 2. We cannot save ourselves BUT, 3. God's perfect, immovable law points us to Christ, who followed and fulfilled the law in thought, word and deed perfectly in our place. He did what we couldn't and did it on our behalf. He was then sentenced to death on a cross, and took our personal punishment for our sin, paying our penalty (like paying our fine) completely FOR us, and has given us freedom. If we turn from the sins we have committed and repent (pursue the opposite direction of love through Christ) He will, overtime, recreate us back into that previously perfect image through The Holy Spirit which Jesus sends to all who accept Him as their personal Lord and Savior of their life. He will help us through the struggle, the stress, and anything we experience in the world. It's about letting Christ in to guide and teach you and obeying Him through His power (not ourselves, we need Him to help us as it's impossible without depending on His power and instruction). He is our substitute in His life, death and resurrection. He essentially rewrote history in our place so that, if you believe in Him, it will be as if you had never sinned if you accept Christ's death as our own in our place. He is in Heaven right now preparing a place for us so that He can take His faithful, believing children home with Him when He returns. He will ressurrect us from death when He returns, giving mercy to those who accept His love, instruction and teachings in their life, and give justice to those who refuse it. He doesn't want ANY of us to go to Hell and die for continuing in evil and rejecting His way to life, thats why He died FOR us. Hes giving EVERYONE a chance, He wants everyone to take the free gift of salvation from Hell. He wants us to be His and begin to follow His life of love and service through His power and abiding (staying) with Him. So long as we keep our hearts near to Christ through His strength, strive to follow His will of perfect love revealed in the Bible, and let Him lead in the midst of (very certain) pitfalls and struggles, we will, in time, win the ultimate victory over sin, pain and DEATH through Christ. Even if you are willing to be made willing, pray for Jesus to come in and He will do what we can't. Give us The Holy Spirit who will guide us in the right way. Christ says in John 16:33: I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.] - (AMPLIFIED version) NOTE: You are NEVER too sinful or messed up that God cannot turn your life around through Jesus. EVER. Regardless of what you've done or what you're going through you CAN make it through Jesus.

[@kiaraavani4094]

Can u do a video on pekay eribesk

[@johneconomou246]

All the useful things you say are covered by the echo in the room!

[@dancebasedancer]

I hope that at some point soon you may consider going into full time teaching.... I think you have a HUGE amount to contribute and I also think that it's possible that you would feel profoundly fulfilled doing this, particularly if you're teaching vocational students - or if you open your own school. Just a thought.

[@morganmcnulty8835]

I was wondering if you had any tips for front extensions. Every time I try to extend my left leg front it feels like my hip is jammed and won't let me lift it any higher. One of my ballet teachers think it's a flexibility problem, but I don't think so. My leg and everything is in proper alignment, and for quite a long time I've been doing pilates/hip and inner thigh strengthening exercises to improve this but nothing seems to work. Do you think it could be a problem with my psoas muscle?

[@tangerine365]

I want your tips on soutenu on pointe, I don't know how I do it I always end up turning only over one foot, and even sometimes if I put the other on the floor, I can't turn, that doesn't happen to me with soft slippers, but with pointe shoes it's really hard I don't even finish the turn when I'm already on plié again :(

[@djhm5318]

What is the difference between letting the hips open, and opening the inner thigh? To me it seemed the only visible difference was keeping the shoulders straight.

[@JaxiXD210XD]

usually dancers want to stay centered, with both hips facing the same way. Opening the inner thigh is correct technique, while opening the hip is not 🙂

[@pangiii232]

In a la seconde, i have the flexibility but I can't feel the right muscles to get and hold a High developpe a la seconde, I've been told that I don't have enough strenght but whats can I do? Help please, love from México

[@stellanicolaou5861]

I want help with a competiton im having n july plzz help !! Love you xx

[@ashleighbligh6222]

Do you have any information you could give someone going up on pointe for the first time?

[@katfish423]

What kind of flooring is it that you have on top of your hardwoods? Where do you get such a thing? Thanks!

[@xchocofairy608]

The yoga mat?

[@angelcuevas2339]

I have scoliosis. and the strength in my back is not that good. Is there any better way to get strength in my back without hurting it? Plus, dance isn't the thing that hurts it, its just having to use it for moves that involve some flexibility.

[@JackdawWishesTTV]

I know this an old video and it has really helped me but I was wondering if you could help me with my a'la seconde. I keep getting told to drop my hip of my working leg but I don't know what that means. I thought it was like when you're standing and you pop your hip to the side but I tried that and it hurt more. I can never tell when my hip is down. Maybe it's because I'm autistic or just stupid but do you have a video about improving grande battement. I know you have a devloppe video which I'm gonna watch now but how can I tell when my hip is down?

[@mimischmidt7214]

I'm a little confused about tucking. I try to stand with good posture and turn out with my inner thighs and hips but then I feel like I'm tucking. What is tucking exactly?

[@ashleytaylor8611]

How much time is too much time to take off of ballet before most of your technique suffers?

[@maratmankov179]

Does anyone know why she said upper back muscles are more important for arabesque then lower back muscles ?

[@dahnig5299]

So my arabesque is okay, but anytime I try to rise it I feel an INTENSE pain in my lower/mid back. Any ideas/help?

[@jeanienguyen1543]

is it still correct if dancers who are russian trained and they lean forward and arch their back in an arabesque since it's the style?

[@catherinemichalska]

Hi Katie! I have two questions I would like to ask you: Going along with the arabesque, many of my teachers have given me the correction of pulling up the inner thigh and back of the leg in arabesque and I understand that I need to because it would make me more stable in the position, but I am unable to pull up my supporting leg. I can feel my inner thighs and back of my leg when I am, in say, first position, fifth, etc. But when I try to pull up my supporting leg but it just feels like a gray area. Do you have any tips or exercises for this problem? My second question is where should I look when my teacher is looking at me? It is the inevitable that in at least one point ballet class that a teacher will walk around the room looking for corrections to give. When the teacher comes around to me, I can help but feel awkward on where I should look. I feel like it is uncomfortable for the both of us if I make eye contact. But then when I completely avoid eye contact I feel like I am ignoring them. What should I do?

[@hannahmorgan7213]

I have been doing back strengthening and I can hold it but I still can't get my leg up. Any help on getting higher Arabesque

[@manga12]

is this your favorite move? Its my favorite move, its very classic of theater dance.

[@sierra7600]

i have a a lot of lower back pain on the right side but i have dance all the time. HELP

[@kathryn_morgan]

+Haiii Serta I would make sure you have a strong core and that you are not sinking into your lower back when you dance. Make sure you are lifting up and feel like you are "forward". Pilates or cross training can help with this. If it continues, it could be serious so you might need to see a doctor.