BALLET SHOES
At what age is the body physically ready to put on pointe shoes or can this be determined by body and foot structure and strength?The student who is ready to commence pointe work will have a strong technique, good proprioceptive awareness (balance & co-ordination), strong core (abdominal & trunk) control, well aligned hips and the ability to align ‘hips over knees over toes’ during ascent & descent work ie rises & plies. There is also the need for flexibility in the ankle joint to align the toes with the shin bone when the foot is pointed (180o ankle plantarflexion) as well as strength in the muscles of the sole of the foot and those in the lower leg (intrinsic & extrinsic muscles) to allow weight to be transferred correctly from the flat foot through a perfect demi-pointe and onto pointe without any tendancy to roll in or out or claw the toes. The dancer feels a sense of ‘floating’ upwards – much strength & control with little effort.There is no exact age at which to begin pointe work however 12yrs old is often mentioned as it is at this time the bones in the feet are nearing maturity and dancers should be proficient technically , however a well trained dancer between 10.5yrs-11.5 yrs who has had a pre-pointe assessment from a dance physiotherapist (www.dancephysio.com.au) or is felt by the teacher to have all the attributes to safely begin pointe training may be fitted for pointe shoes. Training usually begins with 10-15 minutes at the barre on pointe at the end of each class progressing slowly to centre work on pointe as the students become stronger and better controlled. My advice to both dancers & teachers - if in doubt, leave it out - and review at a later date.
What sort of problems occur when a dancer wears a ballet flat that is too small?A shoe that is too small cramps the feet & toes causing pressure on bones & joints resulting in unnecessary blisters, corns & calluses. The dancer may compensate for the pain arising from this by shifting their weight incorrectly resulting in further stress, strain & injury including metatarsal stress fracture and sesamoiditis (inflammation of the small bones under the big toe). Tight shoes may also impinge the small nerves in the sole of the foot causing pain and pins & needles in the first 2-4 toes (Morton’s Neuroma).
What sort of problems occur when a dancer wears a ballet flat that is too big?In shoes that are too big the dancer will either claw the toes to keep the shoe on and suffer cramping in the soles of the feet or they may have to arch or lift (dorsiflex) the toes which will result in overuse of the muscles on the front of the shin causing a shin-splint type pain. A shoe that is too big offers no support to the dancer’s foot.
Many ballet dancers wear ribbons to tie up their shoes, have you encountered any specific problems with ribbons that have been tied to tightly for extended periods of time?Placement of ribbons on ballet shoes especially pointe shoes must be correct or the shoe will never fit properly and the dancer will not have the support they require. Exact placement of ribbons varies with each dancer’s foot and should be assessed by the fitter of the shoe or the dance teacher. If ribbons are tied too tightly the dancer may suffer friction over the achilles tendon at the back of the ankle causing tendonitis which makes it very painful for the dancer to rise or plie. As well tight ribbons can constrict blood supply to the muscles over the front of the shin causing pain which will restrict dance and may even restrict walking (anterior compartment syndrome). If the knot in your ribbon is too big when you tuck it under on the inside of the lower leg it may dig into a couple of very important tendons for dancers - the big toe tendon (flexor hallucis longus) which will restrict rises and pointe work and the tibialis posterior tendon which when inflamed restricts plie and tendu. Lastly if you sickle the foot en l’air in arabesque you can even irritate the tendon down the outside of the ankle making it painful to transfer weight through the foot correctly when you lower from a rise. Best to avoid all these problems by tying your ribbons carefully!
Many dancers start in ballet class at 3 years of age, how important is the shoe for this demographic?At this age the body is still immature, the bottoms sticks out, the tummy protrudes and the feet usually roll inwards. It is unrealistic except in some exceptional cases to try to change this posture using inserts or specially constructed shoes. Control of the foot is better achieved using foot exercise games which all syllabi use to begin the gradual strengthening of the muscles of the feet. The shoe worn by this age group is usually canvas with a full sole, elastic over the instep, a cotton lining to allow young feet to breath (this is one reason why jiffies are never allowed near a ballet class!) and a draw string to ensure the shoe fits well.  Of most importance is that the shoe fits well – not too small, not too big – as either of these will make dance difficult for the little ones starting out and will lead to bad habits & poor learning of basic technique.
Dance is about careful instruction of technique which ensures enjoyment along with  the physical and emotional wellbeing of all dancers – correctly fitting shoes is a very basic component of this premise including whether a dancer is ready for pointe shoes. Be sensible & get all the information you need to make a safe decision for YOU.
Until next time dance happy & safe,DEBRA