You have been dreaming about your first pair of Pointe shoes, you have been dedicated to your ballet class and working really hard. What does your teacher look for to know when and if you are ready to get your first pair of Pointe shoes? Pointe Shoes Readiness; The bones of the feet need to be fully developed and strong. If you start on Pointe without proper strength and technique you could cause growth plate fractures and cause permanent damage. Long foot bones start to harden between 8 & 14 years of age. Before that age your feet and ankles may be too weak to hold the weight of your body on Pointe. There are always exceptions to the rule and your teacher will assess each student individually, but safe consideration for Pointe work usually begins around 12 years of age. Ready or Not? Students should be;
First Year on Pointe Your teacher will teach you how to care for and prepare your feet and shoes for Pointe work. In the first year of Pointe work it is slow and gradual and should be done under your teacher’s supervision. Do not practice at home unless instructed by your teacher. You will be doing lots of very slow exercises at the barre before going to the centre. Be patient as this takes time to develop the strength needed to dance on Pointe. Congratulations as you enter the wonderful and exciting next stage to your ballet dancing! For more information read; The Pointe Book by Janice Barringer and Sarah Schlesinger
0 Comments
What is Character Dancing? Character dance is a specific subdivision of classical dance. It is the stylized representation of a traditional folk or national dance, mostly from European countries, and uses movements and music which have been adapted for the theatre. Character dance is integral to much of the classical ballet repertoire. A good example of character dance within ballet is the series of national dances which take place at the beginning of Act III of Swan Lake. Why are the shoes and skirt important? Character shoes and skirts are required by the RAD for the Graded Ballet Syllabus. The shoes are very important as much for the Character work involves stamping or beating of heels and proper shoes are vital to preventing injuries. The skirt is used often in the character section in each grade. Students must learn the proper positioning of their fingers and arms while holding the skirt and will drop and pick up the hem as they dance. Why are the skirts so expensive? Character Skirts are not currently sold by any dance retailer in Canada. This means that they must be custom made by a seamstress. Because of the amount of fabric used and the time it takes to sew (especially all those ribbons) the cost is about $60+ depending on where you get them made. We are currently able to offer them at $53 +HST until October 30th. NEW THIS SEASON... Character skirts are worn for practice in class as well as for examinations and class awards. These have been a big expense for parents and we have come up with a solution to help ease the cost.
|
Archives
April 2024
|