Prepare to execute a leap by stretching your legs in the splits position. Once you're fully stretched, stand in the corner of the dance studio to give yourself plenty of room. Run three steps and bend your knees, or plie, deeply before leaping into the air. A deep plie gives your leap greater height. While in the air, stretch your legs into a full splits position in the air and keep your head up, and as you come down onto the front leg, land in another plie. Landing in plie will look and sound more graceful. You don't want to crash to the ground. Use your arms to give you more lift. If you split with your right leg in front, hold your left arm in front of you for balance. If you split left, hold your right arm in front. Keep your arms and hands loose to avoid body tension.
Warm up your legs for dance jumps by doing a set of plies or jogging in place. Most dance jumps originate from ballet jumps, but many have been influenced by modern, hip-hop, jazz and even cheerleading. No matter which position you wish to achieve in the air, a good dance jump always begins with a plie, whether you leave the floor from one leg or two. When you reach the peak of your jump, strike your pose, and then return to a plie with both legs or just one. In-air jump positions include front or side splits, stags, tucks, layouts and standstills.
Keep your posture tall and straight when attempting dance turns. If your center of gravity is off, you won't stay in control of your turn, and you won't be able to sustain more than one rotation. For a pirouette, a turn on one foot on the ball of your feet, begin and end the turn with a solid plie. Chaine turns, or continuous turns across the floor, require straight legs and a straight back to keep from veering off course. To keep yourself from getting dizzy, choose a mark on the wall and keep your eyes on that mark. When your rotation turns you away from the mark, quickly spin your head around so your eyes can once again focus on that mark.
Practice leaps, jumps and turns every day when you practice dancing. If you have a few days between classes, practice at home. These moves require lots of space, so push furniture out of the way so you don't hurt yourself. If you have a backyard, practice your leaps there.
Interject smaller steps between leaps, jumps and turns to combine these dramatic moves into dance combinations and routines. Smaller steps used for connecting these steps include the box step, ball change, grapevine, chasse, and pas de bourree. Experiment with ways to enter and exit leaps, jumps and turns that allow you to showcase your skills.