I am not on Pinterest!Eat a banana (or something else with potassium) before class to help with muscle cramps. Drink a lot of water. Don’t feel bad if you only start out doing a little barre work en pointe at first. Have Icy Hot or Tiger Balm or something like that ready for the aches and pains the next day.
But congratulations! You’ll have a blast (especially once the blisters and calluses help with the pain)!
Here’s a quick series to help pointe hopefuls gain the necessary strength in their ankles and calves.
Dance day cleaning #ballet #dance #danceday #slc #slcmuth #musictheatre #musictheatrelife #collegelife #myslc @lulumoods
Yes! It could be due to a small injury in that foot or just it being weaker naturally. Most of the time it only becomes an issue if you do what most people, including myself, tend to do: focusing on the stronger side. You need to work the weaker side more (and stretch tighter sides more) to get them to the same level as your other foot.
But as long as you can do what you need to do, there isn’t much reason to stress it.
- Talk to your ballet teacher(s) about pointe. Ask them what you need to work on most.
- Listen to the corrections you receive in all of your dance classes and work your hardest on applying them.
- Work on your ankle strength and flexibility. Lots of balances on releve, lots of calf raises, lots of ankle circles, and lots of gentle stretching using your hands.
- Learn to cut your toenails short. Shorter than you think you have to.
- Work on extending through your toes while pointing your foot rather than curling them under.
- Practice your balances. Balance in sousous, balance in an arabesque, balance in every and any pose you can think of. A heightened sense of your center of gravity and how your individual body balances will come in very helpful when you have to balance on two square inches.
Nervous about an upcoming audition? Here’s a three-month guide to help prepare you.
