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Permalink Reply by Aine The Dragon on January 7, 2008 at 9:25pm

Are you trying to do the kind where you switch your feet front to back quickly (like an entrechat in ballet)? or where you "double" them in front without switching?

Either way, focus on your upper thighs beating rather then the feet themselves. Also a good way to practice any tricky "flutter" type move is to do it lying on your back, with your legs sticking straight up. No gravity that way, and its great for your abs too!

If you're trying to do the entrechat style, your feet should wrap around, so if you start with right foot crossed in front, your left foot should be in front when you reach the top of the jump, and your right again in front when you land. Really think of squeezing your thighs when you cross that left foot in front to make the flutter look big and strong, and crossed.

If you are doing the flutter with no switch, alot of times people seem to want their foot to go "out in out in" for the flutter motion. I find it very hard to rebound quickly from the "out" portion, so I think more like "IN out in" with the emphasis on the "in" at the start. Normally as you jump, if you are relaxed, your feet will come slightly uncrossed (unless you correct it, which you should do if you are not fluttering, but if you try jumping kinda relaxed and sloppy, you'll notice what I mean) At that point, I push my upper thighs together tightly, and if you have any kind of muscle/fat on your legs, you will notice that they rebound outwards after that (again, if you are relaxed). Then all you have to do is recross those feet as you land. So thats my advice. Squeeze "in" first and let the rest follow. Worst case scenario is that if you dont complete the flutter, at least your feet will be nice and crossed.

Mostly it just takes alot of practice, so keep working on it. A drill that I like to do is this:
It goes to reel music.

Do one prep jump (like you did on the video, or just jumping straight up on both feet together) then do repeating flutters (or double-jumps as we call them at my school) for 4 bars (if you count the prep jump as 1, then 4 bars ends on the eighth jump) then rest 4 bars, then repeat. You can alternate feet each 8 bar segment, or do it on the same foot a couple times then switch.

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Permalink Reply by Tereza Bernardova on January 13, 2008 at 12:47am

Hi, how are you? For any kind of excercise I'd recommend working in between two chairs (use them as your support) in front of the mirror. It helps you to slow down the movement and in that way you can easily lead your legs into correct positions.
In flutters make sure your legs are absolutely straight and so your toes are perfectly pointed-nothing should be relaxed in the air. Make sure, whether you changing your legs or not, that all the time both legs are same active.
If you changing your legs in jump, watch you legs-in the jump should open to the side and close back, to the side and close in front while landing. They shouldn't move backward and forward. It also looks nicer when your take off and landing is over crossed...
Hope it helps! Take care,
Tereza x

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Permalink Reply by Shawnee on January 13, 2008 at 11:19am

Make sure you keep you toes pointed to the ground when you jump it will look much neater. I think with just a bit more practic you should be able to get the hang of them in no time!

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Permalink Reply by Paul McAvinchey on January 13, 2008 at 1:28pm

Hi Roisin...you should upload these videos to the video section - it is really easy and quick to do. This way people will be able to quickly see your videos and use the comments section for advice.

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Permalink Reply by Kelli on January 13, 2008 at 3:40pm

hi I agree with all of the comments here. What helped me get them was to concentrate on my knees.
keeping them tight and straight. when jumping feel your knees rotate around eachother. the tighter you keep your legs together the better it will work. at least that's what works for me. :)

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Permalink Reply by Angelika Berber on January 16, 2008 at 4:49pm

Having looked at your videos slow-motion, I think your main problem is that as soon as your feet are in the air your turn-out disappears. That will make your heels get into each other's way.
Look at your video in slow-motion by just pulling the button on the bar side-ways slowly. Then you will see what I mean. In any case, some great advice already by other diddlyiers, practise between two chairs, or practise lying on your back with your legs straight up in the air.
Otherwise your FLutters look good already, you've got the switch in it, just to make it more pronounced, fix your turn-out. Nice work, keep it up, it took me forever to get the hang of those!

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