In ballet, a slow and controlled leg extension is called a developpe. In dance, a leg extension refers to lifting one leg to either the front, side or back.

Of course, the goal of a dancer performing these moves would be to get their leg as high as possible.

You can use this exercise to build lower body strength and muscle definition as part of a strength training workout. Side leg raises involve abducting, or pushing away, the leg from your midline. The exercise works mainly the quadriceps muscles of the front of the thigh—the rectus femoris and the vastus muscles. Leg extensions can be performed in the ballet, jazz, contemporary, and other styles of dance.

The leg extension, or knee extension, is a type of strength training exercise. You sit on a padded seat and raise a padded bar with your legs. Leg extensions are exercises usually done with a lever machine. In jazz, a high kick is a type of leg extension. It’s an excellent move for strengthening your quadriceps, which are in the front of your upper legs.