Ballet/My Point

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Question
Hi me again,
My teacher says when you point your foot your toes should go in a flat line from the top of your foot or curve over do you have any ways for me to improve that point?
Thanks

Answer
Hi Ellie. Basically, your toes stay lengthened. They may follow the curve of your point, but not curl. This gives you a stronger foot in pointe shoes, and more control coming down through the foot.

A good exercise for this is doing a press up, in pointe shoes, and lowering to the three quarter pointe, then pressing up onto full pointe again. Do it as many times as you can, until your foot/toe muscles are tired. You can also do this sitting down, with a theraband behind the toes. Flex and stretch a few times pushing against the band.

Follow up with relaxing and stretching your foot muscles with a little rubber ball or a golf ball, to ease all the tension out of your feet.

All the best, Dianne

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Dianne M. Buxton

Expertise

I can answer questions about ballet positions, ballet movements and ballet technique, pointe shoes and pre pointe exercise, mens training, ballet diet, general health issues related to dance, artistry, performance, modern dance, rehabilitation from injuries, and teaching ballet. I have taught ballet, choreographed, produced and directed dance companies. For any answers related to health questions I will offer my experience, and give references to information, but I also automatically include "see a professional".

Experience

dancer, ballet and modern, choreographer, dance teacher, artistic director, ballet mistress, producer

Organizations
I.S.T.D. Actra, Actors Equity

Publications
http://ezinearticles.com http://ballettoeshoes.blogspot.com http://streetarticles.com http://balletconnections.com

Education/Credentials
Graduate of the National Ballet School of Canada where I studied Cecchetti, Bournonville, Vaganova and Graham technique. Taught at the National Ballet School of Canada, York University, George Brown College and Harvard University.

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