Ballet on Pointe - Athleticism & Grace
When you mention ballet, most people think of ballet on pointe: the seemingly effortless grace and supreme athleticism displayed in so many well known ballets.
The likes of Swan Lake, Giselle and Coppelia come to mind.
Dancers at their best.
To achieve this level of dancing takes years of hard work and many very specific ballet exercises to target key muscle groups - quads, hamstrings, abs, gluts, calves, ankles and feet.
It takes years of stretching and strengthening that all lead to that moment when the dancer rises up on pointe to the awe and admiration of the audience.
Many young girls starting ballet find the early ballet steps a little boring to learn.
My daughter, after her first year of dancing, asked me why she couldn't skip all of the 'easy stuff' and just start learning pointe.
At the time I didn't know.
It wasn't until her dancing concert the following year that the mother of one of the older girls mentioned what had to be achieved before ballet on pointe can be taught.
She mentioned that the kids could really damage their feet and ankles if they weren't ready to dance on pointe.
Naturally I didn't want to risk my daughter's safety so went home to research more about what was needed.
Dancing on the pointe of our toes is anatomically very difficult.
The early years spent at the barre learning and practicing plies, tendus, releves and all of the other seemingly simple ballet exercises are all designed to increase the strength and flexibility to later help support the body while on pointe.
The box of the pointe shoe also helps, but it is the muscles in the body that holds a dancer up.
Many exercises need to be repeated continuously for years to gain the balance and strength needed to dance on pointe.
I did some research to find information that has saved my daughters feet from injury and I recommend all parents do the same to assist young dancers during the pre pointe ballet and early pointe stages to protect their feet as they develop.
I advise parents become fully informed about the dangers of going on to pointe too early and to research exercises dancers can use to strengthen the right muscles.
They should also know how to strap feet to reduce pain while wearing pointe shoes and other practical ballet information.
The likes of Swan Lake, Giselle and Coppelia come to mind.
Dancers at their best.
To achieve this level of dancing takes years of hard work and many very specific ballet exercises to target key muscle groups - quads, hamstrings, abs, gluts, calves, ankles and feet.
It takes years of stretching and strengthening that all lead to that moment when the dancer rises up on pointe to the awe and admiration of the audience.
Many young girls starting ballet find the early ballet steps a little boring to learn.
My daughter, after her first year of dancing, asked me why she couldn't skip all of the 'easy stuff' and just start learning pointe.
At the time I didn't know.
It wasn't until her dancing concert the following year that the mother of one of the older girls mentioned what had to be achieved before ballet on pointe can be taught.
She mentioned that the kids could really damage their feet and ankles if they weren't ready to dance on pointe.
Naturally I didn't want to risk my daughter's safety so went home to research more about what was needed.
Dancing on the pointe of our toes is anatomically very difficult.
The early years spent at the barre learning and practicing plies, tendus, releves and all of the other seemingly simple ballet exercises are all designed to increase the strength and flexibility to later help support the body while on pointe.
The box of the pointe shoe also helps, but it is the muscles in the body that holds a dancer up.
Many exercises need to be repeated continuously for years to gain the balance and strength needed to dance on pointe.
I did some research to find information that has saved my daughters feet from injury and I recommend all parents do the same to assist young dancers during the pre pointe ballet and early pointe stages to protect their feet as they develop.
I advise parents become fully informed about the dangers of going on to pointe too early and to research exercises dancers can use to strengthen the right muscles.
They should also know how to strap feet to reduce pain while wearing pointe shoes and other practical ballet information.
Source...