Question for Ballet Mums

peachyprice

My DD has finally got 'the invitation' to start pointe :T

She's excited and really pleased to have been asked, but she's a little nervous about it. She's worried about it hurting her toes and also ruining her feet.

I'm looking for some reassurances and useful tips I can give her to help keep discomfort to a minimum and how to keep her feet looking pretty. She's seen some of the older girls (16-17yos) feet and quite frankly it's scared the life out of her, they're hideous!. But those girls are the hard core dancers, TBH I can't see her quite reaching that level.

Obviously I'll talk to her teachers when she goes back, but that's not until the 23rd, so any advice in the meantime would be much appreciated.

juno

You really need Ballet talk for dancers. They're amazing on that forum, and can even recommend which pointe shoes will be best. If your daughter has the right shoes then pointe should not hurt - and anyone reading this who disagrees needs a fitting from Clara.

peachyprice

Thanks Juno, I'll pop over there.

Is Clara the lady at Bloch, Coven Garden? I have been recommended a lady there, but I can't remember her name.

Mrs_Imp

Tell her to keep her toenails short. ouchie ouchie :eek: And practice little and often at home.

meritaten

If the older girls at this ballet school have hideous feet - then shouldnt alarm bells be ringing?
unless there has been a change in teachers/managment, then the older girls feet are an indicator that something is NOT right!
its not down to the shoes alone - its down to the preparation for going 'on point' and the training.
if your little girl is nervous and worried - I would say she has reason to be, she knows the school and its pupils and teachers. if SHE is worried - I would be too.
one of my best childhood friends was a student at the Royal School of Ballet - and went on to a successful career and later as a choreographer. The care of feet was paramount to him - I wouldnt say his feet were 'pretty' - but they certainly werent 'hideous' even at the end of his ballet career.

juno

peachyprice wrote: »

Thanks Juno, I'll pop over there.

Is Clara the lady at Bloch, Coven Garden? I have been recommended a lady there, but I can't remember her name.

Clara is on the forum. I know she is involved in ballet somewhere but I think she's based in America. If you post pics and measurements of your DD's feet (there's a guide in their Pointe forum, and you have to register to be able to read it) then she can do a "virtual fitting" to give you something to go on.

meritaten

Peachy - you havent given the most important information - how OLD is your DD?

peachyprice

meritaten wrote: »

If the older girls at this ballet school have hideous feet - then shouldnt alarm bells be ringing?
unless there has been a change in teachers/managment, then the older girls feet are an indicator that something is NOT right!
its not down to the shoes alone - its down to the preparation for going 'on point' and the training.
if your little girl is nervous and worried - I would say she has reason to be, she knows the school and its pupils and teachers. if SHE is worried - I would be too.
one of my best childhood friends was a student at the Royal School of Ballet - and went on to a successful career and later as a choreographer. The care of feet was paramount to him - I wouldnt say his feet were 'pretty' - but they certainly werent 'hideous' even at the end of his ballet career.

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Hard working ballet dancers are notorious for having terrible feet, but well done to your friend for keeping his pretty.

So no, no alarm bells are ringing, she goes to a very professional dance school that produces great dancers.

peachyprice

She's coming up for 11.

McKneff

meritaten wrote: »

If the older girls at this ballet school have hideous feet - then shouldnt alarm bells be ringing?
unless there has been a change in teachers/managment, then the older girls feet are an indicator that something is NOT right!
its not down to the shoes alone - its down to the preparation for going 'on point' and the training.
if your little girl is nervous and worried - I would say she has reason to be, she knows the school and its pupils and teachers. if SHE is worried - I would be too.
one of my best childhood friends was a student at the Royal School of Ballet - and went on to a successful career and later as a choreographer. The care of feet was paramount to him - I wouldnt say his feet were 'pretty' - but they certainly werent 'hideous' even at the end of his ballet career.

Absolutely agree with this.

I must also add that hideous feet are not just visually hideous.

They bloody well hurt as well, not just when your 17 but for the rest of your life. She is right to be afraid.

elliebobs

I used to dance on Pointe and had my shoes specially measured etc and my feet are in pretty terrible condition!
One thing that we did back in the day, not sure if it's frowned upon now, was to bathe the feet in surgical spirit to harden the skin! I also used to pad my shoes with wool. Dr Scholl used to sell it but not sure if they still do.

To be honest; if I had a daughter studying ballet I'd be more worried about the long term effects on her joints and muscles from forcing them into pretty unnatural positions for prolonged periods of time.