1. Start the Stretch Slowly
Ballerinas who are new to modern dance should have little difficulty mastering the bow stretch in modern dance. The bow stretch is a variation of two different ballet moves: the attitude and the penche. It's easy to do the bow stretch if you've already mastered these two ballet moves. When beginning to learn the bow stretch, only stretch as far as you can while maintaining your balance. You'll increase the extent of your stretch gradually over time. Stop the stretch as soon as you begin to wobble or lose your balance. Begin with both feet together. Raise one of your legs out behind your body. Bend the leg in and grab your leg by the ankle. Pull your leg toward the ceiling. In a completed bow stretch, the ankle of your raised leg will be about shoulder height.
2. Stretch Both Sides
Do the bow stretch in modern dance on both the left and right "sides." The "left side" consists of maintaining all your weight on your left leg on stretching your right leg behind your body into the bow stretch. Likewise, a bow stretch on the "right side" requires you to keep all your weight on your right leg. Make sure you perform the bow stretch on both sides to keep everything even. Inevitably, though, as with many dance moves, one side is going to be a bit easier than the other, but it's still important to improve your flexibility on your weaker side. Even if you're performing the bow stretch with your upper body facing the audience, the "side" of your body you're performing the bow stretch on depends on what leg your weight is on and what leg you're bending and pulling up behind your body.
3. Add Extra Support
Do the bow stretch at the ballet barre or near a wall if you need the extra support in order to balance properly. Gradually you'll develop the ability to balance and will be less reliant on this type of assistance. You and another dancer can also balance against each others hands. This can help with balance during practice, but it can also be part of your choreography for a performance.
4. Bow Stretch Before Your Bow
Do the bow stretch in a live performance. Don't let the word "stretch" deceive you into thinking you're limited to performing this move during your warm-up only. The creative possibilities are endless when incorporating a bow stretch into your modern dance choreography. One option is to have the dancers stand on stage in three horizontal lines, one row in front of the other. The first and third lines can perform a bow stretch in the same direction, and the middle line can perform a bow stretch in the opposite direction. You can also perform a bow stretch with the front of your body directly facing the audience. You'll also have several options for hand and arm movements when performing the bow stretch.
