Teaching Pointing the Feet in Ballet - with Ellen Davis

[DesiFuyuko]

I wish you were my teacher >< Here in PR we don't have teachers like you, or at least I haven't found any responsible, attentive teacher yet

[sunyalila]

Dear @DesiFuyuko , what does PR stand for? Where is that? Perhaps I can recommend someone, or I can supplement the training you are currently getting with online coaching on skype. In any case, I support your inner teacher to give you all of the compassionate, responsible attentiveness that you desire from a teacher.May you be graced with those around you that you can learn from & that will reflect that loving attentiveness. To your deepest fulfillment in your dance, & life. ellentd@aol.com

[DesiFuyuko]

@sunyalila Thank you, you're very nice. I don't have skype, but I can watch your videos for aid here on youtube anytime :) The PR is for Puerto Rico ^^

[Malela89]

Could somebody help me I have sooooo much high my instep but I dont have my toes strong enough so when im on pointe my feets wants to fall over the front could you tell me what excersice can I do for that

[sunyalila]

@Malela89 I would have to see you and what your structure, technique, and strength are before prescribing special exercises. There are resistance type exercises you can do to strengthen your feet and toes with a theraband. In my pointe classes I give an exercise facing the barre in first position - rise up on pointe and keeping the knees straight, flex the toes on both feet,then point them, flex toes, point them, flex point, 4 to 8 times, etc. more coming

[sunyalila]

@Malela89 then I give the same thing going all the way to the half pointe from being on pointe. Learning to control coming down off of pointe and controling that place between pointe and half pointe is very important and this exercise is good for that and stengthening the toes. If you have such a high arch, you might have to learn to stand on pointe differently and hold back your toes inorder to stand on the pads of your toes rather than knuckle over. I - more coming

[sunyalila]

@Malela89 there are three replies from me, read from the bottom up - this is the last one. It is very difficult to explain all of this to you in writing and not seeing you. I hope it will be helpful. Having high arches is an asset in that it makes a beautiful line, but going along with that flexibility is sometimes more weakness and a challenge for pointe work. One has to learn how to deal with it. Getting shoes with strong shenks and boxes is also helpful. All of the very best to you!

[Malela89]

@sunyalila thanks for your quick response I can make u a video of my feet if you want to and some excersices we do in class for me its difficult to explain because I dont talk english so those excersices and forms to say the way of the foot its dificult to me but I will sent you a video and you can see better thank you so much for your advice because im worried remember Im a noob I just have less than a month on pointe but in 3 weeks I have broken 3 pairs of pointe shoes so It can be like a pair

[Malela89]

@sunyalila a pair per week so... I have the most arc feet of the class so I think for me it could be different, or maybe I need more practice we have 15 hours of training per week. well thank you so much Ill do a video hope you have a great day

[sunyalila]

@Malela89 - looking forward to seeing your video! With whom do you study? What school?

[cheriobaby1113]

thanks ! Question should a beginner (adult) start learning in 5th position - when i dont have a 180 degree turn out ?

[sunyalila]

@cheriobaby1113 - I do not feel it is wise to force your turn-out from your feet and close all the way, into a tight fifth especially in the beginning. You can do damage to feet, ankles, knees, and hips if you do that. I do a third position for beginners that we call 'fifth' because we are evolving it towards 5th. You must honor your own individual hip-structure and not force beyond that. Wherever it is, I ask for an active rather than passive engagement of the turnout. - more coming

[sunyalila]

@cheriobaby1113 - The turn-out of the feet are a result of the work you are doing with your hips and inner thighs. I have a couple of other instructional youtubes on turn-out and how to find your individual first position based on your hip structure that will give you an idea about how to find your 5th position. Check them out! All of the very best to you in your dance and life, Ellen

[AcemanJones]

winging your foot is not appropriate and in fact, contracts the arch more than necessary.

[sunyalila]

@AcemanJones - hmmmm - While I would agree that one can over-wing the feet and then not stretch them and ankles as much as they could and should, I do not agree that winging or angling it the right amount is "inappropriate". The musculature and anatomy of each foot, ankle and leg is different and finding the right amount for the line and proper work of the foot (and to avoid sickling) will vary individually. - more coming

[sunyalila]

@AcemanJones : Insofar as not doing that at all, tell that to the dancers and ballet mistresses and masters at the Kirov, Bolshoi, NYCB, ABT, Stuttgart, Joffrey, Houston, Royal, Berlin, and every other major or better minor company. It looks like the dancers on your youtube are doing it... and from looking at your background, I know that Edward Villella and dancers at the Miami City Ballet do it too.

[AcemanJones]

@sunyalila The dancers I work with do not stand on winged feet. Using the range of your feet and ankles (ie; pliability and range of movement) is correct, including winging the feet, yes.

But EVERY and ANY dancer at ANY of those companies you listed will tell you that putting weight and standing on a rolled-in, winged, pronated foot is not only dangerous to the knee and ankle but also incorrect form. You can't land 32 fouettes or a grande jete on a pronated, winged standing foot

[sunyalila]

@AcemanJones I agree that rolling in or standing on winged feet, or feet that are turned out beyond one's hip structure is dangerous for the knees, ankles and even the hips and incorrect form. In addition, one cannot actively engage their turn-out from the hips and inner-thighs when they are rolling in. standing on demi-pointe or on pointe, the ankle is generally more towards the big toe so as to be more stable and not to sickle. But the degree is individual according the stucture of the foot.

[sunyalila]

@AcemanJones I was discussing the shape of the foot when pointing and not standing. Winging the foot when standing results in rolling in and winging it too much when pointing results in not stretching the ankles enough. Every body is different and finding the right balance and line for one body may be different than for another. I have some instructional videos on turn-out and how to get an experience of actively engaging your turn out that discusses and demonstrates this in greater depth.

[beryozinka]

Can you tell me where can I get this composition and what is it called?

[sunyalila]

@beryozinka -It is on one of Michael Roberts Ballet Music cd's. Probably his his compilation cd. I think it is the 5th track. I don't think the music of this piece has a name, unless it is 'slow tendu's. His cd's are very good to teach with. It is all his orignal music, plays with a lot of feeling and has good tempos and choices for class.

[sunyalila]

So glad that it could be helpful for you!

Ellen

[Silvexsun]

wow thanks for showing this exercise. I've always had trouble with keeping my foot in the right position, its nice to see something dedicated to just that issue.