Motivation

Hey bunheads, it's been a while! I have some good news and some bad news, bad news first. No Nutcracker for me this year. It's tragic, I know, but the newish owner is completely changing everything about it, from location to costumes to choreography, and I guess the random 17 year old on stage doesn't fit his vision, haha. I'm okay with it though, my classload is ridiculous right now.

Now for the good news! My class is starting variations! Normally, we'd have a combined class with level 5 and 6 on Monday for 2 hours, and a normal class on Thursday for an hour and a half. However, considering there's only 3 people in level 5 and only 5 in level 6, they combined Thursday's class as well, and tacked on an extra half hour to fourty-five minutes so we can learn variations! I'm so excited, none of my normal friends get it, so hopefully one of you out there will get my glee. It'll be great.

The reason this is called Motivation, is because before I found out about variations class, I was close to being done. I was falling behind in class because the other girls in my level take 5 classes a week and I take 2, and I was dissappointed about lack of Nutcracker. I didn't really get why I was still dancing, my feet and muscles hurt after every class and I have hours of studying to do before and after dance to keep up with my advanced and college level classes (ap chem, astronomy, and ap US government and politics, ouch). Not to mention, I'm working 15+ hours a week (including Friday and Saturday nights, goodbye social life) to fund my expensive hobby. The only light at the end of the tunnel I could see was that next year as a level 6 I'd get to preform variations. And now that that has come a year early, so I'm staying in the game. I'm more motivated than ever.

Unfortunately, I'm missing the first variation class (can you believe my luck?) because I'm helping run a safe Halloween at my high school, and it's the same day.

My russian pointes have one foot in the grave. I just can not find a pair of shoes to last me more than a few months, from Blochs to Russians everything dies in a month. The amount of jet glue I use is unbelievable. I'm going to go for grishkos or gaynor mindens next I think, or possible a different fit and shank on russians. Any suggestions?

I'm going to add a bunch of variation videos in the Video tab up there ^^, so look at them and tell me your favorites!

Quick Pointe Shoe Video

Here's a video by the Australian Ballet about the pointe shoe fitter/ artistic co-ordinater. I know I would kill for a pair of custom pointes, wouldn't that be amazing?

Tell me in the comments if you've found your perfect pointes, what are they!?

New Pointes!

I just got my third pair of pointes! They are Russian Pointe Rubins, and I love them. My Capezios tended to pop off my heels, and they died too fast, so these should fix both of those problems. I'm not going to sew them yet, because I want my artistic director to check them and make sure everything is okay. I'm a little nervous because Russian Pointes tend to be less pink, and more silvery than most pointe shoes are, and my studio likes uniformity. When I get the okay, I'll sew them up and get pictures for you!



I was even thinking of making a "How to Sew Your Pointe Shoes" video, but I don't know yet, let me know what you think!

Pointe Shoes!

Hey guys! So, every girl that starts ballet dreams about getting pointe shoes. I know I was so excited to get them! Here are a few videos on Youtube of my favorite pointe shoe videos.

Summer Plans for Dance!

Hey guys! How are you all doing? With school coming to a close soon, summer is just around the corner! I am super excited for this summer. I'll be doing a 5 day, 2.5 hour per day ballet/pointe intensive in June. I did one of these last year too, when I first got my pointes. It was set up like a regular 90 minute class on flat, and then an hour of pointe. I don't know if it will be the same this year, but hopefully it will be! I'll also be attending open classes, probably once a week, in addition to that.

Also, drumroll please, I decided to try out lyrical. Anyone who's been reading for a while knows I used to attend another competition studio, and I miss it sooooo much. The girls were awesome and the teacher was so much fun. It was much more of a family atmosphere, and I miss them! So I'll be taking a lyrical class once a week there, and maybe even continue it and take it next year as well!

What are you guys doing this summer?

Pointe Shoe Padding

Hey guys! I wrote a post on this months ago, it was super long and I spent like an hour on it, and then my computer shut down and it was deleted. I didn't have the heart or patience to rewrite it then, but here it is! Better late than never!

So, there are many different types of pointe shoe padding. Some people use very little padding, others use a lot. It all depends on your feet, your shoes, and your pain tolerence. Here's a breakdown.

Fabric Padding:

Fabric padding are generally not too thick, but also not thin. They can occasionally shift around in the shoe, but is a great option. They can be hand washed and air dried. They don't rip and tear easily, and can sometimes be trimmed down, depending on the brand. Fabric tends to be pretty pricey, $15-$25, but is the most durable.













Some examples are Ouch Pouches (which come in nice colors too!), and Skinny Dips.

Gel Padding:

Gel padding is usually pretty thick. It is very protective, but can prevent you from feeling the floor, which is important, especially for beginners. They can tear or rip. They should be hand washed, air dried, and then sprinkled with baby powder or talc powder.


Examples are Eurotards Feather lights and Sansha Toe pads.

Combination Padding

Gel and Fabric can be combined. These types of pads are usually gel with a layer of fabric. The fabric can be worn on the toes, or the gel can, depending on preference. Like gel pads, these can rip and tear, however it is less likely due to the fabric. Like gel, these should be hand washed and sprinkled with powder. I use these (mine are Gellows) and have had them since I started pointe 10 months ago. I really like them, not too thin or thick, and mine have not torn. They aren't too expensive either.












Examples are Gellows and Gel Tip Toe Pillows, both by Pillows for Pointe.

Lambs Wool:

Lambs wool padding can be used as a primary padding or just as a filler for problem spots. It is probably the oldest type of padding. It can be formed into a pad that fits to your foot, or it can be bought in a pre-made pad. It gets thinner as you use it, but can be carefully washed and fluffed dry so it returns to it's original shape. It's generally very thin and versatile.



Examples are Discount Dance Supply Lambs Wool and Lambs Wool Pillows from Pillows for Pointe.

Extras:

There are types of padding other than the main toe pads like those shown above. For example, if you have a large space between your toes, you may want toe spacers. Toe spacers are like a little chunk of gel that you stick between your toes to keep your toes aligned properly. If you have problems with specific areas, you may want to get gel spots, which can be placed anywhere that needs more protection. If you have problems with a specific toe, or if your big toe is smaller than your second toe, you can get toe caps to even the length or further protect a specific toe. I use both Space Makers and Gel Tips because of the gaps between my toes and the length difference in my first and second toe.

Examples are Space Makers, Gel Spots, and Clear Stretch Gel Tips by Bunheads.

There you have it, a basic guide to pointe shoe padding. Tell me what you like, and don't like, to use in the comments!

My Pointes are Dying

Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today in honor of my pointe shoes. Because they're practically dead. They fit pretty nicely, and the shank is molded perfectly to my arch, but they're looking pretty soft. I got these shoes less than a month ago, (what, 2 weeks?), ugh. I really do not want to fork over another $85 for new shoes. I knew the shanks were softer on these shoes, and my dance teacher told me to try them out and get a harder shank next time, so I guess that's what I'll do.

On a cheerful note, Happy Valentines Day! Lots of love to my readers out there, you guys are awesome. I love all the comments and everything. So have a good day!

New Pointes and Fitting Tips!

Hello Everyone! Yesterday after school I had a pointe shoe fitting. My dance studio owner scheduled two pointe shoe fitters to come to the studio and get pointe shoes for the girls in my level who had pre-pointe shoes and some of the older girls who needed new shoes as well. I was a bit late from the snow we got, but when I got there I was instructed to put on my toe pads and get in line. I waited about 20 minutes, and then one of the ladies came to help me. She asked my street shoe size, and then looked at my feet for a few seconds and grabbed a pair of Capezios. Way too big. Next, another pair of Capezios. Again, too big. Then a pair of Blochs, too loose. Then another pair of Capezios. I went over to the barre for these ones, and when I stepped onto pointe (when getting fitted they always say, "Step don't roll!") and they winged out and were super loose and baggy. One more pair and I was done. The winners were a beautiful pair of Capezio Arias. When I went over to the barre and stepped onto pointe, they accentuated my pretty high arch quite nicely, and my dance studio owner said they looked amazing (it's hard to get a complement from him!). They are quite a bit softer than my old Bloch Serenades, but I think that will make them a bit easier to dance in. Not to mention, they also have a bigger box. I do get a lot more pressure on my big toe, so I'll need to get some gel spots or something to ease that.

So, when you're getting ready for your first pointe shoe fitting, here are some tips. Make sure you are wearing convertible tights, and if you have toe pads, bring them. If not, get them before you try on shoes, because the shoes will fit differently depending on the padding you have. It's ok to wear jeans, but make sure you can roll them up to your knees. So no skinny jeans! You could be trying on pointes anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour to find the best for you. You'll probably want to try on at least 3 pairs to make sure you get a good variety. Buying your first pointes is more difficult than your second or more pair, because you don't really know how they're supposed to fit. I found out after a few months en pointe that my box was too tapered for me, and the shank was pretty hard for a beginner. Of course, I never would have known this in June, because I didn't really even know what all that meant. You may try on a hundred shoes in 10 different brands, but don't try to rush the process. Pointe shoes need to be the best fit possible to make it as easy and painless as possible for you. When you get the pointe shoes, make sure to get ribbons and elastic as well. You don't want to get ribbon from a craft store, you should get dance ribbon that matches your shoes. Some dance stores even throw it in for free.

When you're getting your pointe shoes, make sure you go to an experienced fitter if your teacher doesn't set up an appointment. If you have to drive 45 minutes to get there, do it. At my last "pointe shoe fitting", I tried on one pair and she said they were good. Ugh. Don't let that happen to you!

So there you have it! My pointe shoe fitting and tips, hope I helped!

Pointe FAQ

Frequently asked questions about pointe. If you have any questions, ask in the comments!

1. When can I start pointe?
I don't know. I don't know you, and even if I did I couldn't tell you. What I can tell you is that you generally need about 3 years of 3 classes a week to start pointe, and you should be 12 or older. There is no set rule though, I began pointe after 2 years of classes at the descretion of my ballet teacher and artistic director. I know girls who have been dancing for years but are still not ready, whether they are still growing or too weak.

2. What shoes should I get?
You need to be fitted for pointe shoes by a professional fitter. There are tons of styles for high arches vs. low arches, long toes vs. short toes, tapered toes vs. squared toes, ect. No brand is really better than the other. I have Bloch Serenades and love them, they're nice and hard, durable, and pretty. They support my feet well, but they may not work for you. It might take a few different models and brands before you find your "perfect shoe".

3. What kind of padding?
It depends. I'm writing a padding post tomorrow so you can compare and contrast. I use gellows by pillows for pointe, and like them a lot.

4. Does it hurt?
Well, sort of. It's uncomfortable, but only if you have injuries. For example, I get really bad ingrown toenails (gross I know, sorry!) and it causes a lot of pain en pointe for me when they are bad. However, when they aren't ingrown, it is not painful. At first it will feel foreign, because lets face it, people weren't built for dancing on their toes. With the proper toe pad and pointe shoe combination, it shouldn't hurt.

5. Will my feet get blisters/bruised toenails/ect?
Probably, they will. Embrace it! Gross feet are the mark of a dancer. Ingrown toenails, bruised toenails, cracked toenails, blisters, and bruises may occur. If your feet aren't too bad, you may just get some callouses.

6. What can I do when I first start pointe?
Well, unless you're getting pre-professional training, you'll start with a lot of eleves, releves, and eschappes. Then you'll move on to passe and coupe balances, and things like bourrees and pas de bourrees. Then maybe chaine and pique turns. Rome wasn't built in a day!

7. Is it worth it?
To me it is, or I wouldn't be doing it! If you love ballet and a little discomfort doesn't bother you, go for it!

Bloch Serenades!

So, hope that helps! To the other pointe dancers out there, is it just me or do new pointes smell amazing?

Day 1 of Pointe!

Hey guys! Sorry I didn't update last night, I was out with friends and didn't get home until it was almost midnight! One thing about dance is that it does cut into your social life, but if you have awesome friends (like mine!) they won't mind accommodating your schedule.

Anyways, yesterday was my first day at the ballet/pointe intensive. It was two and a half hours long. I was guessing there would be around 12 girls there, but there was only 8 including myself! That was really cool for me, because you get more specialized attention when there is less people. It also tends to make me more nervous to not screw up the combinations because if I do, it will be noticed.

We started the intensive like a normal ballet class. We did about 45 minutes at the barre, which was fun because we got to try some different combinations and even learned a few new things as well. Then we had a 5 minute water break and moved on to center/across the floor stuff. One of the last things we did was a petite allegro, which always makes me nervous because petite allegro combinations are small and fast, and I sometimes get tied up. However, this one was actually a lot of fun, and I managed it without messing up too badly. We also did a fun grande allegro which included saute arabesques, tour jetes, pas de chats, and grande jetes, which are always challenging.

After 45 minutes, we had another short break and got our pointe or demi-pointe shoes. Most of the girls at the camp are actually not en pointe yet because their feet aren't ready, so they have demi-pointe shoes which are like pointe shoes without the shank so they can get used to the feeling of pointe shoes without harming their feet. There are two girls that aren't from the academy who are just going for the intensive, and they are both en pointe with me.

We spent about 15 minutes practicing tying and untying the shoes, and worked on some basic exercises at the barre.

Being en pointe is a really cool feeling, it's almost like you're on stilts. I am 5'4" standing normally, and about 5'8" en pointe, so it really does make you feel taller and almost weightless.

Pointe Shoes!

Hello everyone! Just a comment before I get started; if you've visited the blog any time in the last few days you'll have seen that I've been changing the design around a bit and playing with new fonts and backgrounds. At the end of the day, I decided that the greenish blue theme I picked out just wasn't right, so I switched back to the original.


Ok, so back to the good stuff, I got my pointe shoes! My first ever pointes are Bloch Serenades, size 3.5, and I'm pretty much in love with them. I got them on Saturday (two days ago) and stayed up until nearly 4 am last night sewing on the ribbons for my first pointe class today. I'm super excited to get back to class, I haven't had a ballet class in nearly 3 weeks and it seems like it's been longer. Every day this week I have a class from 4:30-7, about 40 minutes to an hour of it will be pointe.

The toe pads I got are called Gellows, by the company Pillows for Pointes. They have gel on one side, and fabric on the other. They're pretty thin, which I like, but they're still comfortable.They came with a little slip of paper in the box that said, "Inspected by: Curly", which I thought was kind of neat. It's interesting to think about all of the work gone into making a single pair of pointe shoes and pointe shoe accessories. Pointe shoes are still hand made, so a few weeks or months ago my shoes were being hand made and inspected by a skilled craftsman in who knows where. It's kind of cool, isn't it?








Anyway, back on topic: I also got toe spacers ("Spacemakers") from bunheads, which are supposed to go between your first and second toe if you have a gap. I might not wear them the first class to see how it goes without them, but I got them just in case. They're made of a gel like material, they're squishy without being too soft. 

Finally, I'm also going to stick a piece of cotton or paper towel on the tip of my first toe because I have Greek feet, meaning my second toe is longer then the first (weird, I know). Putting something there to even out the lengths lessens the pressure on my second toe.

I'll be posting later with how my class went, so stop by again tonight or tomorrow afternoon. Leave a comment about your first pointe shoes, or if you have any other questions or comments feel free to post!

Results!

I get audition results tonight at class (which ends at 7)! Wish me luck! 


Hey guys, the results are in! I've been accepted into the Jr. Company and I've passed the pointe evaluation. Looks like my summer will be full of dancing! I can't officially start pointe until mid-June, and until then I'm going to focus on strengthening and technique 100%. 

Auditions!

So on Monday we had the Jr. Company auditions as well as pointe evaluations. We had class in the "big studio" today, instead of the regular studio. The class was taught by a senior company member, while my teacher and her pro friend evaluated. There were more girls in the class then usual because some of them weren't old enough to audition for the Jr. Corps last year, and they already had basic pointe training. Two of the girls were my "backstage buddies" for Nutcracker, so it was good to see them again, although we didn't chat at all. The mirrors in the big studio don't cover the whole wall, because of a badly placed door. Unfortunately, during barre, I was on the very end where there was no mirrors, so I wasn't able to see myself at all. That makes me so nervous, because my arms tend to drop a little when I can't actually see them. Because someone new was teaching, the combinations were a little different, and a little harder as well. I messed up once or twice; I hope no body noticed! Center and across the floor was more difficult as well. She gave us an intense turning combination that practically had me falling over by the time I had done it twice. Just a final thought: Petite allegro scares me. I think it was the most frightening part of the class. My feet just don't move fast enough! 


I think we will find out who made the cuts for both pointe and Jr. Company tonight at class, wish me luck!

Auditions in one day!

Hey guys! On Wednesday I only had an hour of ballet because I had to leave early to meet my German exchange student! She will be staying with me for the next three weeks, she seems really nice. Anyway, class was fun, I was on a roll when we were turning, I snuck in a triple pirouette.


I'm really excited for the pointe evaluation/jr. company audition on Monday. I ordered a new black leotard from discountdance.com, the same bratek one I posted about earlier, but in black instead of burgandy because we need a black leotard for the evaluation/audition. I was really surprised when the leotard arrives after just 2 days, even though we got shipping for 3-7 days. So I really recommend Discount Dance! The leotard with shipping was as much as buying it in the store, and it got here so fast! I love the Capezio Bratek leotard,  I hope they come out with more in different styles and colors!

I love this picture. It shows the dedication and work that was put into pointe. Comment with a url of your favorite ballet pics!

If I am allowed to begin pointe, I will attend a one week "mini intensive" where the teacher goes over basic exercises, tying/sewing techniques, and does strengthening exercises in the summer. It is two and a half hours long for 6 days. Then, if I am accepted into the Jr. Company, there is a three week "intensive", again 2 1/2 hours. The first week is technique, the second is variations, and the third is contemporary. Variations and contemporary are both taught by different teachers then normally, and I would love to learn a variation and some contemporary work!


Happy Dancing! Leave me a comment :)

*Update* 3/12

Hey everyone! I have some super exciting news, well, exciting for me anyways :). Today I was told that in three weeks we will be evaluated for pointe and we will have auditions for the Jr. Corps. I'm so excited! I was a little worried that I would be too old for the Jr. Corps, as most of them are 11-14, but my dance teacher said they had a few older girls join in past years if they recently move there or started late.



The evaluation will be like a ballet class taught by one of the Seniors in the Senior Corps. (She was our snow queen in Nut). My dance teacher asked a guest pro dancer, the Cavalier in our Nut, to come so both of them can evaluate the class. I'm so excited, but I hope I don't get nervous and mess up! At that class, we will also fill out a form if we want to join the Corps, and it will also be like an audition and evaluation all in one ballet class. She said they look that you are physically and mentally prepared. Also, she likes girls to be around 11-12, but that doesn't really effect me.

Are any of you starting pointe soon? Have you already started pointe? Share your experiences or ask questions in the comments! Happy Dancing!

Pointe Requirements

Requirements for Pointe

1. Age

Before starting pointe, a girl's foot plates should be done growing so the shoes don't damage her feet. She also needs to be responsible, a good listener, and able to take instruction. For these reasons, most teachers don't put girls en pointe until they are at least 11. Some ballet dancers under 12 get foot x-rays so they can be sure their feet are done growing. With late beginners, age usually isn't a problem.

2. Strength

Pointe requires strength in the feet, ankles, legs, and core. Without good balance and strong legs and ankles, it would be just too easy to fall off pointe and break an ankle. It also takes strength to get over the box of the shoe. A qualified dance teacher will be able to tell you when you are strong enough to begin pointe. It usually takes 3 years of three classes a week.

3. Technique and ability

Technique in ballet is so important. It is much harder to maintain turnout and keep from sickling in pointe shoes, so a dancer should be able to do these things when in flat shoes. You should be able to things flat before you can try them en pointe. If you can't do a single pirouette in flat shoes, there is no way you'll be able to do it on your toes!

I think many girls want to start pointe so badly that they don't think about actually doing pointe work. It would be so dull if you got pointe shoes but couldn't do anything in them because of lack of technique.

4. Commitment

Dancers should dance ballet because they want to, not because they want to start pointe. You need to be really committed to dance to begin pointe. You should be stretching and doing exercises (with permission of a teacher) at home, and you shouldn't skip class to hang out with friends. Pointe is hard work and can become frustrating  but with determination you'll be able to improve.

*It takes an average of three 90 minute classes for three years to begin pointe, however every girl is different. Only a qualified dancer teacher can tell you when you are ready. Do NOT buy your own pointe shoes without permission from a qualified dance teacher. Do NOT begin pointe if you don't think you are ready.