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Monday, 21 November 2016

Arts & Humanities: Dancing: “Question: Forgetting Pom poms? Really strict teacher?” plus 3 more

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Arts & Humanities: Dancing: “Question: Forgetting Pom poms? Really strict teacher?” plus 3 more

Question: Forgetting Pom poms? Really strict teacher?

Posted: 21 Nov 2016 11:22 AM PST

You need to LEARN RESPONSIBILITY.

Your teacher will gladly help you by punishing you every time you are not responsible.

So, to stop getting punished YOU MUST LEARN RESPONSIBILITY.

Question: Should I buy demi pointe ballet shoes or regular pointe shoes?

Posted: 20 Nov 2016 09:17 PM PST

She absolutely should NOT get pointe shoes! You don't use those in a prepointe class. You buy them when her teacher says she is ready for actual pointe classes and not a minute before that. She should wear her regular ballet slippers in a prepointe class. She could buy demi pointe shoes but they are expensive and really don't serve any purpose except getting used to wearing a box. Professional ballet school never have their students use them. Sometimes recreational school use demi pointes to placate young girls as it makes them feel like they are getting closer to pointe work. That being said and if the teacher says get demi pointes and all the other girls are will be wearing demi pointes then she will feel left out if she doesn't. Again, they really don't serve a useful purpose and cost around as much as pointe shoes. They are not like training wheels are to riding a bike. They won't build her feet or get her ready for pointe any quicker. Truth is wearing a full sole leather slipper will work her foot more and offers more resistance (if fitted proprly which is a snug fit) ) and will help her to get ready for pointe work more than a demi pointe shoe will.

FYI: pointe shoe fittings usually require a note from the teacher and an appointment that can last as long as an hour with a professional fitter. There is a lot to fitting a pointe shoe properly. Part of that fitting is being able to get up on the box of the shoe. It requires picking out the right strength shank for your foot, the right shape box, platform, length of vamp, heel and profile that works best for a dancer. It's not just the length and width like buying any other kind of shoe. Those things change as a dancer gets stronger so you can't just buy them now for when she is ready later as her foot flexibility and strength changes during prepointe class. Two people can wear the exact same street shoe size and completely different pointe shoes sizes. Dancers often find what worked great as a beginner en pointe won't due as they get stronger so you need different pointe shoes as you progress because your feet change in terms of strength.
If a dancer is rushed into pointe shoes before they are really ready there is not only pain due to not being strong enough to lift up out of your shoes but you have an increased risk of injury. In order to be ready for pointe you need strong feet, ankles, legs and core along with balance and proper alignment. You also need the ability to engage and hold your turnout (harder to do en pointe than in ballet slippers) as well as not letting you foot sickle. Most important is strong ballet technique. There are no shortcuts to that. In a good recreational ballet school it takes about three consecutive years of taking three or more 90 minute ballet classes a week to be ready for pointe. Serious preprofessional dancers on track for a ballet career take way more classes as they are held to a higher standard before they are allowed en pointe. Going up sooner doesn't mean you are a quick learner, work harder or have more natural talent. It just means you have a poor teacher. Regarding prepointe class anyone should be able to take those as it just means a class before you actually are ready for pointe work. It focuses on getting you ready for pointe by working on strengthening the feet, legs and core. If you take enough ballet technique classes per week all your classes focus on those things. That is why professional schools skip prepointe classes as they aren't necessary for students who take daily ballet classes 5/6 days a week. Not everyone will be ready for pointe on the same day or even the same year.

Question: Summer intensive auditions tips?

Posted: 20 Nov 2016 04:42 PM PST

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