The ability of ballerinas to stand on their toes when dancing is something that leaves people watching it in awe and wonder, asking questions of how they (ballerinas) can do it.
How do they get so comfortable standing on their toes while only a few exceptional people can be able to do so?
This article will explain step by step how ballerinas stand on their toes and the process that helps in making it simple and comfortable.
How do ballerinas stand on their toes?
Ballerinas are able to stand on their toes as a result of the design of pointe shoes they use, the frequent and long time training ( sometimes for several years) as well as the long term effort of the ballet dancer itself.
Ballerinas can stand on their shoes because the pointe shoes come with a shank that comfortably provides support to the ballerina’s body in giving adequate support to the arch of their foot which gives them the opportunity to stand on their toes without problems.
However, it is worth noting that standing or dancing on toes despite the long years and adequate practices needed before you become perfect, standing on toes in a pointe shoe is not for an extended period either as a result of the performance requirement or due to the safety of a ballerina’s feet.
Before ballerinas started standing on their toes, certain conditions must be met to ensure safety, professionalism and overall expertise.
These conditions consist of the right age or development stage, a certain level of understanding of the basics and the desire to excel in ballet.
The teacher and the ballerina need to make sure that the will-be pointe shoes user willing to start standing on her toes has attained a certain age range or shows significant physical development that will not cause harm or stunt her growth in the future.
Moreover, understanding all the basic components of ballet should be made a minimum requirement for moving towards ballet.
Conduct tests to ensure the ballet dancer can work well in pointe and will not get issues mixing the activities and steps needed.
Also, before a ballerina is permitted to start using pointe shoes, the teacher should make sure that the girl has a long-term interest in ballet and can be able to contribute towards making it better and professional.
How do you stand on your toes in ballet?
As a ballet dancer, standing on your toes is crucial especially if you already have a pointe shoe.
The most important aspect of knowing how to stand on your toes is comfort. You must make sure that your toes are not in any way close to having problems that may injure your leg.
To make sure the comfort of your thesis is guaranteed, a cushion-like material will be put into the shoe so that when you attempt to stand on the toes, the soft inner part of the pointe will make it easy and comfortable for you.
How long do ballerinas take to learn to stand on their toes?
Learning how to stand on the toes of a ballerina is a matter of training, dedication, age and experience.
A ballet dancer takes between one to four years of practice before she can be able to master the technique of standing on her toes using pointe shoes.
However, the timeline for how long it takes varies from one ballerina to another. Some may learn it very fast while for others the process is slow.
The amount of time dedicated to practice also helps in determining the longevity of mastering standing on toes by a ballerina.
Does standing on toes damage ballet shoes?
Standing on toes exerts massive pressure on the front part of the pointe which helps in weakening the hard and stiffer part of the shoe that helps ballerinas get the required balance when dancing.
The weakening of the part will lead to the ballet shoes becoming loose which is not good for a proper ballet practice or actual performance.
The more a ballet dancer stands on her toes in pointe shoes, the quicker her shoes will get damaged coupled with the fact that ballet shoes don’t last long because they are made from cheap materials.
Can a non-ballet dancer stand on her toes during ballet?
A non-ballet dancer has nothing to do with engaging in ballet apart from watching as a spectator because of the specialized and saturated nature of the industry.
Unlike other hobbies or professions that are beginner-friendly, ballet dancing requires years of practice and huge financial commitment before one can become better at it.
Therefore, a non-ballet dancers cannot stand on their toes like professional ballerinas do because they are not trained to do so by a professional instructor.
How much does it cost for a ballerina to learn to stand on her toes?
The cost implication for a ballerina to learn how to stand on her toes is of three categories.
First, it will take days if not months of intensive training before she can be able to stand on her toes properly which will also translate to paying for coaching, transportation herself to the ballet gallery as well and time that can’t be measured in material quantity.
Secondly, before a ballerina learns how to stand on her toes during ballet performance, she will consume lots of ballet pointe shoes which are expensive to buy and are quick to disintegrate.
How much training does she need?
A ballerina needs between one to five years of training before she can be able to master the technique of standing on her toes comfortably.
This training is not general to all ballet dancers but is subject to individual performance, dedication to learning as well and frequent coaching sessions determined by the availability of the ballet trainee, her guide as well and training ground for conducting the) process using pointe shoes.
Can a male ballet dancer learn how to stand on his toes?
Although it is extremely rare, a male ballet dancer can learn how to stand on her toes and perform very well like his female counterpart when he is called upon to do so.
However, the chances of male ballet dancing on pointe are very low due to several reasons such as physique, lack of role to play and general stereotypes.
Conclusion
Ballerinas do stand on their toes when they train extensively and well for a long time under the guidance of a good instructor as well as experience gathered in the past which helps them do so with ease and without any risk of causing injury to their feet by using good quality pointe shoes for both performance and regular training.
Other factors also contributed to how ballerinas stand on their toes such as watching experts, learning the basics, weight as well as having good ballet feet.
References
What It’s Really Like to Be a Ballerina