These form as a result of toes being squished together and tension on the big toe joint. Ankle sprains are common in dancers from overworking the lateral side of the ankle for multiple hours per day. This is usually the result of repeated impact, blisters, or overuse. Another common dancing injury, this occurs when the corner or edge of the nail grows into surrounding skin. These are common when dancing in pointe shoes that haven’t been broken in yet or aren’t properly fitted, or from movement and friction between toes. This can also lead to foot issues such as Achilles tendonitis, shin splints, and sprained ankles.Ĭommon dancing injuries to the feet include:
Male ballet dancers typically don’t dance on pointe. Foot bones begin to harden between the ages of 8 and 14, so pointe work isn’t usually begun until feet have “ossified” or hardened. By that time, they’ve strengthened and developed their legs, feet, and ankles, as well as their balance and body alignment.įor most girls, the transition to pointe shoes usually happens between ages 11 and 13. Dancing on pointeĭancers typically dance for a number of years before advancing to pointe shoes. This may help make the shoes feel more comfortable as they dance. Dancers may place lamb’s wool or another soft material in the shoe, and tape around their feet, too.
Each pair of pointe shoes is custom fit to a dancer’s feet. The other parts of the shoe are made from satin, leather, and cotton. This makes the shoes sturdy enough to support a dancer’s body weight. The tips of these shoes are made from layers of fabric that are densely packed, along with cardboard or hardened paper. Pointe shoesĬlassical ballet dancers wear pointe shoes. This is due to the difficulty of the skill and the impact it has on the feet and body. This is a classical ballet technique that may be the most compromising form of dance for the feet. The pointe technique is where a ballet dancer’s feet are completely extended and supporting all of their body weight as they move.