Help making my ankles stronger

 Is there a way to increase the strength of my ankles and improve my balance?  In tap and dance, we often have to balance on one foot while tap with the other.  Or even just standing on one leg and holding the other up to stretch I get off balance.  I'm definitely a lot better than I was and I've been trying to practice balance, but my ankles start wobbling and I can't for very long.  Any suggestions?

Thanks.
Jan

 my coach/trainer had me use a "BAPS" board to help the flexibility in my ankle.  My trainer and ART/Chiropractor work together, so the chiro also did work on my ankles.   Seems to work pretty well for me.  

Short of that, the homework they gave me was to write the alphabet with my toes,  pointed and leg outstretched.  English Alphabet is good, Hebrew is even better though :)  

 When I sprained my ankle 2 years ago, my doc told me the same thing about writing the alphabet with my toes.  I've been doing it almost daily ever since.  Haven't tried Hebrew, block or script?  LOL  I guess it's more the strength and balance.  Maybe I'll have to get a BAPS board.

Thanks.
Jan

My skating coach told me that a lot of people think they have weak ankles when it's really just a balance issue. IOW, you work on balance and suddenly your ankles are fine. LOL

So... I'd just do general balance exercises and not focus on the ankles. They are probably a symptom, not a cause.

 Balance is really my big issue, I just thought weak ankles were causing it.  What sort of balance exercises do you do besides standing on one foot?

Thanks.
Jan

A lot of the balance exercises do involve standing on one foot. LOL But you do something while you stand. There are also exercises you can do on the stabiility ball.

Also, making your core stronger will help with your balance. As does getting stronger in the lower body.

Here are some ideas:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/balance-exercises/SM00049
http://www.livestrong.com/exercises/balance/

And here is an article that explains that strength exercises are also balance exercises:

http://weboflife.nasa.gov/exerciseandaging/chapter4_balance.html