I love it when some specific things are told in an accessible language, and on the contrary, I can’t stomach people who talk about their specialized knowledge from the point of view that it is not accessible to anyone else. The troublemaker for my peace was the Vumn.ru forum: I wandered there by accident in search of what a “jump up” was. I didn’t find an answer, but the dialogue was interesting. A girl asks there whether it is possible to get on pointe shoes at the age of 25+ (why ask - just go ahead and do it!). Immediately women came running (not to be confused with women), those who always know everything, and a couple of ballerinas. The latter began to discuss that they had been struggling with lifting since childhood, and in general the lady couldn’t lift her leg higher than 90 degrees...
Firstly, who told you that a dancer understands something about teaching ballet or is he familiar with the technology he was taught with? Who even said that actors, athletes or singers are such smart people that their opinions are worth listening to? Secondly, I don’t understand, I like it - study, try, work, achieve. Unfortunately, in our country we do not have such a mania for different hobbies: in the states, in Europe, in China there are many amateur schools where people seriously (otherwise it is impossible in the classics) study ballet for themselves (and not in order to perform). Why not? There are also sling mothers (you know the ones with small children who wear them in a special scarf) who stand by the stick with the sling and the baby. Thirdly, buy pointe shoes, and then we’ll see...
How to choose?
Of the 15 parameters of the last, the majority (nickel, closeness, type of insole, neckline and lace) is what distinguishes the pointe shoe models from one another (Capezio has more than 10 of them, Grishko and R-Class have about 15, Bloch has 20 models ). But for each of them you can choose the size, fullness, and rigidity of the insole (and, sometimes, material and color).
Most manufacturers have visual ways to select a model, and brand stores employ a specialist in selecting pointe shoes - a fitter.
How much to buy?
A ballet soloist spends 3 pairs of pointe shoes per performance (according to rumors, I don’t know how it really is, but just one is definitely not enough). They are not durable: the rigidity of the box and insole begins to decrease under load, which means that it becomes more difficult to stand on your toes. Sometimes the insole simply breaks. Professionals change pointe shoes and ballet shoes often, but this is not a problem for an amateur. Although today durable pointe shoes from Gaynor Minden have appeared (and they are not the only ones mastering this technology), manufacturers write that they are high-tech, but there is another problem: they do not break, do not wear out, the outer material simply becomes completely unusable (they cost 2-3 times more shoes from Grishko, R-Class or Bloch).
It all depends on the intensity of the classes, but the first pair will last you for a year, no less. Another thing is that there is a desire to try more and more new models :)
Can I wear it?
When new pointe shoes are purchased, unlike sneakers, you cannot put them on right away. They need to be prepared. In general, everything is too easy with sneakers: the laces are there and already inserted! And to begin with, ribbons are sewn onto pointe shoes, and not just anywhere, but at the top of the instep, in the place where support is needed - it is individual for everyone, so the ribbons come separately. Although there is another simple way: the place is selected according to the bent heel.
Of course, they are sewn on by hand, thread and needle, then cut to length and melted (sometimes the cut is treated with varnish or glue) so that they do not stick out or crumble. Optionally, an elastic band is sewn on to hold the heel and the lace is tightened.
Now they can be attached to the leg. But that’s not all: if we talk about professionals and experienced amateurs, they prepare their pointe shoes more carefully.
Sometimes the top fabric is cut off from a nickel, sewn around the perimeter with threads or a leather overlay is glued on, and beaten with a hammer to remove the corners.
The box is kneaded (the manufacturer says that this does not need to be done, and these are relics of the past, but here the taste and color, as they say, all markers are different - it is important to bring the box to the desired degree of softness so that it is comfortable), for this they knock on it with a hammer , they stand with their heels on top, squeeze them in the door... in general, they mock them as they want.
The insole is bent, especially in the heel area, sometimes torn off at the top from the sole (as I understand it, for a more aesthetic appearance on the half-toes), they give it a shape and simply soften it on its own.
Some professionals soak their pointe shoes in a special way, or rosin the inside, or... in general, everyone has their own ritual, but an amateur cares about them, like Zakharova...
Is it possible now?
Now it’s too early to put on pointe shoes. It will look like this, although it should look different.
And the point here is not that this is funny and unaesthetic. You simply cannot dance with such legs: there will be either a fracture or a serious deformation in the ankle area. This is roughly like climbing a steep hill, putting on skis and pushing off - hypothetically you can get all the way to the bottom, but an adequate person without minimal training will not do this.
In order to stand on pointe with your foot, which is usually in position L, you need to do I, that is, straighten it from a position of 90’ to 180+. Adult stubborn amateurs use such a thing for this, but in childhood it stretches more easily.
In addition to stretching the instep, you also need to pump it. This muscle is very poorly developed in an ordinary person. There are Plie and Releve dance exercises.
What it is? Grab something, stand very straight, as straight as you can, put your heels together and spread your toes (something like a V), and now squat down without lifting your butt, as if you had swallowed a crowbar, without lifting a single millimeter of your foot from the floor . Squat as low as possible - this is Plie.
Now, without lifting your toes from the floor and without tilting your foot, rise onto your tiptoes (half toes). Now you just lift your heel off the floor, rise higher, even higher, and higher, now press your heel into your leg - this is Releve.
Repeat 1000 times.
And here it is also important not to forget to pump up your fingers. Yes, those same toes that a healthy, sane person does nothing with, but football players, for example, use to train them. They do a lot of things for this: they do push-ups, push weights, walk up the steps, swing with an expander.
As with any activity, 10,000 hours will make you an expert. Pump and pull, pull and swing... Good ballet legs for a normal uninitiated person look, to put it mildly, ugly.
These are beautiful ballet legs: there is an inflated instep, which makes the foot huge (but strong, and it looks beautiful in pointe shoes), as well as X-shaped legs (what is called hyperextension) - especially appreciated by ballerinas: in the photo below on the right the legs of a normal person, on the left are the legs of a human dancer.
And these are the feet of the world-famous ballerina Svetlana Zakharova, who is idolized by almost all ballerinas (she is really beautiful, beautifully built and artistic) it would be great if she were not an ardent supporter of PZhiV.
But this, of course, does not threaten simple mortals :)
Is this even safe?
And the comments to it prompted me to an interesting idea.
Let's try to figure out what ballet shoes are made of - pointe shoes, or as the ballerinas themselves call them, "toes".
Today there are enough companies producing ballet shoes. And the Bolshoi Theater ballerinas have a choice. I’ll definitely tell you how it was before. After.
So, in front of you are 4 pairs of “fingers”. These are Chinese SanSha, Japanese Chacott, shoes made in the workshops of the Bolshoi Theater and American Geynor Minden.
It is the latter that we will talk about today.
Let me make a lyrical digression. Unlike many, I have been dancing exclusively in Bolshoi Theater pointe shoes, made to my measurements, for almost 30 years. I tried different ones. Of all the variety, besides my native “fingers,” I feel great in Capezio. In Geynor, I can’t just dance, I just can’t walk. Although many leading ballerinas love them. But as they say - it depends on the taste and color.
Let's continue.
The shoes initially have a curved arch. This may be convenient for some. No to me.
The shoe patch is a very important part, if not the main one. After all, the ballerina is standing on it. I remember I was surprised when I came to the Bolshoi and saw pointe shoes with the heel of no more than a five-ruble coin.
Now nickels are two or even three times more. It is considered more comfortable to stand on a large, wide heel. Maybe.
Shoes without ribbons. Each ballerina sews in the way that suits her. Since I wasn’t going to use the shoes, I didn’t sew on any ribbons.
In profile, the leg in shoes looks quite nice, but in full face, folds become visible. Knowing how the Bolshoi shoes work and what they are made of, I wanted to know what ballet shoes are made of in America. By the way, Geynor, in my opinion, has two drawbacks. It’s hard to stand on your toes in them (I always wondered why) and you have to sew an elastic band to the heel of the shoes so that the heel doesn’t slip off.
First, we strip off the nickel. On Geynor it is sewn separately, unlike other shoes. Under the fabric... plastic and a piece of thin foam!!!
Now I think I understand why in many ballet photographs the nails are affected by fungus. Legs and fingers in plastic DO NOT BREATHE!!!
We take out the insole, which by the way is also made of synthetic material.
Thin foam rubber is glued to the back side.
We look into the shoes and there... Also plastic. This is why it is difficult to stand on your toes. The plastic is quite hard and difficult to bend.
Between the fabric and the plastic liner in the shoes there is a thin film of foam rubber under the heel.
This is what Geynor shoes look like without the plastic filling. The inner fabric is also synthetic!
This is the “beauty” I have left from my right or left shoe. Almost dismantled for parts.
The only natural material is the sole. This is suede.
The most painful topic in the backstage life of ballet is the feet of ballerinas. The fact is that until the 18th century, both men and women danced in ballet in ordinary shoes with heels. With the advent of pointe shoes, ballet became an exclusively female phenomenon.
Below is a photo of the feet of a ballerina standing on pointe shoes. This stance is fraught with many injuries. There is even a separate specialization in medicine that deals exclusively with injuries to dancers. The size of a ballet shoe is much smaller than the usual shoe size (almost 2 times), this allows you to rest on your toes, while the foot is deformed. 
Ballerinas are like air fairies, on whom gravity does not seem to affect. We only see how they rarely touch the stage with their feet, and spend the rest of the time flying.
Ordinary people have soft feet, but a ballerina’s feet are no softer than a chair leg in terms of hardness. A ballerina's muscles are strong, resilient and strong as iron. After all, otherwise, they would not be able to support their body weight on the heel of their pointe shoes with an area of no more than 2 square centimeters.
Most often, professional injuries are associated with fractures, dislocations and sprains, as well as injuries to the ligamentous apparatus of joints. A significant part of ballet injury is also injury to the hip joint, which entails a whole range of problems involving the pelvic organs in inflammatory processes.
Try to solve a problem from a physics course, calculate the force with which a ballerina with an average weight of 50 kg presses on such an area. This is the strength hidden behind the apparent fragility of the ballerina.
Ballerinas have a concept called “breaking the instep,” which involves forcibly stretching the ligaments of the upper part of the foot. Many people put their fingers under something and thus pull out the instep. As with any unnatural bending, this is what happens: those ligaments that work in tension are stretched and often partially torn, causing the ligamentous apparatus of the foot to weaken and become loose.
With age, this process brings certain inconveniences, that is, the leg easily twists, especially when running and jumping. Thrombophlebitis and arthritis-arthrosis are also common occupational diseases of ballet. You have to pay for beauty this way.
Hallux valgus deformity
Hallus valgus Hallux valgus (hallus valgus) is a condition in which the big toe joint is damaged. This condition is commonly called bunion.
It is possible to use various orthopedic products (instep supports, toe correctors, interdigital rollers). The use of orthopedic devices helps to stop further deformation in the early stages. With severe deformation, the use of orthopedic products can only slightly reduce pain. Custom insoles help correct damaged arches.
If the deformity is caused by a metabolic disorder or a systemic disease, then it is necessary to carry out treatment aimed at correcting the underlying disease with the involvement of a rheumatologist or endocinologist.
Surgery
If all conservative measures are not effective, then a decision is made on surgical treatment. Currently, there are more than 100 surgical techniques for the treatment of Hallus valgus. The main tasks in surgical treatment are as follows:
remove bunion
reconstruct the bones that make up the big toe
balance the muscles around the joint so that there is no recurrence of the deformity
Removing the “growth”
In some mild cases of bunion formation, only the growth on the joint capsule may be removed during surgery. This operation is performed through a small incision on the side of the foot in the area of the bunion. Once the skin is cut, the growth is removed using a special surgical chisel. The bone is aligned and the skin incision is closed with small sutures.
It is more likely that reconstruction of the big toe will also be necessary. The main decision that must be made is whether to cut the metatarsal bone and reconstruct it as well. To resolve this issue, the angle between the first metatarsal and the second bone is important. The normal angle is approximately nine or ten degrees. If the angle is 13 degrees or greater, the metatarsal bone will most likely need to be cut and reconstructed. When the surgeon cuts and repositions the bone, it is called an osteotomy. There are two main techniques used to perform osteotomy and reconstruction of the first metatarsal bone.
Distal osteotomy
In some cases, the distal end of the bone is cut and moved laterally (this is called a distal osteotomy). This effectively reduces the angle between the first and second metatarsals. This type of surgery usually requires one or two small incisions in the leg. Once the surgeon has achieved satisfactory bone alignment, the osteotomy is followed by securing the bones using metal pins. After surgery and healing, the pins are removed (usually they are removed 3-6 weeks after surgery).
Procymal osteotomy
In other situations, the first metatarsal bone is cut at the proximal end of the bone. This type of surgery usually requires two or three small incisions in the leg. Once the skin is cut, the surgeon performs an osteotomy. The bone undergoes reconstruction and is temporarily fixed with metal pins. This operation also reduces the angle between the metatarsal bones. In addition, the tendon of the adductor big toe muscle is released. Therefore, after the operation, a special bandage is put on.
It takes an average of 8 weeks for the soft tissue and bones to heal. During this period, it is better to place the foot in shoes with a wooden sole or a special bandage in order to prevent trauma to the operated tissues and allow normal regeneration. Immediately after surgery you may need crutches.
In patients with severe bursitis, physiotherapy (up to 6-7 procedures) may be prescribed a certain time after surgery. In addition, you must wear shoes with wide fronts. It is also possible to use correctors. All this can allow you to quickly return to normal walking.
We have already talked a lot about the problem of the feet, such as valgus deformation of the big toe, when an unsightly bulge forms on the joint near it - a bump, which is acquired as a consequence of articular changes in the foot due to loads associated with excess weight, wearing uncomfortable shoes and many other reasons. Treatment of Hallux Valgus will require a lot of effort, time and a whole range of measures from you (custom orthopedic insoles, physiotherapy for the feet, foot massage, therapeutic foot exercises, selection of comfortable shoes, weight correction). Tire photo
To prevent and stop the development of joint malalignment and the appearance of painful and unsightly bunions on the big toes, the valgus abduction splint was developed, a unique brace that corrects joint misalignment and makes the big toe deformity smaller over time. But in order to speed up the process and consolidate the results, an integrated approach to solving this problem is needed, which is aimed at relieving inflammation and strengthening the muscles and arch of the foot
Orthopedic insoles are insoles that are made specifically for people suffering from foot diseases, or who want to prevent them. If you experience discomfort and tension in your feet while walking, you should contact an orthopedist, who, after an examination, will prescribe you to wear orthopedic insoles.
An orthopedic insole supports the foot and promotes its correct position. The orthopedic insole relaxes the foot muscles that suffer from overstrain and engages the leg muscles that were not previously working. Orthopedic insoles have a rigid frame that provides permanent fixation of the inner and outer parts of the feet in the correct anatomical position, which increases stability and significantly improves blood circulation in the foot. The load on the spine and knee joints is also reduced. Regular use of insoles reduces leg fatigue due to their supportive effect and prevents the development of flat feet.
In high-heeled shoes you will gain greater stability, walking will no longer be accompanied by painful sensations, and your overall well-being will improve. Wearing orthopedic insoles is indicated for increased loads on the legs, as well as for foot pathologies that can appear at any age.
Only high-quality materials are used in the manufacture of orthopedic insoles, which ensures a long service life of the product. The insoles have a minimum thickness, and you will not have to choose larger shoes. Orthopedic insoles can be selected or made for any shoe with different types of heels.
Based on materials:
http://www.dikul.net/wiki/hallus-valgus
http://vk.com/topic-34088120_26356073
A year ago, a friend sent me a photograph in which ballet legs “flaunted”. The picture was accompanied by the question: “Is this really so?”
Here is this photo.
Its author is photographer and ballerina of the Classical Ballet Theater of St. Petersburg Darian Volkova. Having seen the photo, only one question arose in my head: “How can you not respect yourself and not love your legs (which, by the way, feed you) in order to bring them to such a state?”
Some time later, with approximately the same question, they sent me another photo. This one. This is actually some kind of horror. I have never seen such legs in my own theater. And looking at how the pointe shoe sits on your left foot, you get the feeling that the shoe is from someone else’s foot.
And just the other day, while giving an interview to a music publication, they read me a question from the Internet: “Is it true that ballerinas’ legs are always bruised and bruised?” Kind of like football players and someone else.
So... No that's not true!
Two days ago I showed these and other similar photographs to my colleagues at the theater. Everyone was shocked by what they saw. And the reaction was almost the same. "It's like not loving your legs." “These are sore feet” (in the sense of having some kind of disease, such as fungus).
I don’t know where the photographers who post such photographs find these very ballet legs. I really want to see these ballerinas. I saw something similar, but among people who had nothing to do with ballet.
And now I want to show you the legs of the Bolshoi Theater ballerinas. Many thanks to those who agreed to take part in the “photo shoot”.
No bruises, bruises or other horror stories.
Calluses... Ballerinas don’t even have them.
It's not just ballet shoes that rub your feet. They can also be washed with simple shoes. By the way, the last time I washed my toes with ballet shoes was about 15 years ago. But ordinary, everyday shoes, last summer.
Before going on stage, performers - be they soloists or corps de ballet dancers - if necessary, tape their feet so as not to wash them. Although sometimes these measures do not save. But this rarely happens, especially if you take care of your legs.
And not everyone has a bunion on their thumb. And this has nothing to do with ballet.
And dark spots on the nails too. Once, when pushing off the side of the pool, I did it extremely poorly, and then walked around with a blue nail for a whole week.
So don't believe those who say that ballerinas' legs are a bloody mess. And I heard this too. As you can see, there are no bruises or bruises.
You just need to love your legs, you need to take care of them.
P.S. And one more thing... Do not forget one simple thing: any ballerina, regardless of status, regalia, position (leading ballerina or corps de ballet dancer) is first and foremost a woman. And like any woman, how her legs look depends solely on her attitude towards herself - loved or unloved.
Without a doubt, ballet is the main art form representing our country at the international level. And at the same time, the world of ballet, living according to its own laws, is hidden from the eyes of outsiders. Thanks to this, many legends associated with it appear.
Our editors have collected the most common stereotypes and asked Igor Cvirko, the premier of the Hungarian Opera House and former leading soloist of the Bolshoi Theater, to comment on them. About bloody legs, glass shards in pointe shoes and claquers - in the material of the Moscow 24 portal.
“A woman who practices ballet is a ballerina, and a man is a ballerina.” No, of course not. The word “baller” does not exist at all. A man who practices ballet is either a ballet dancer, a dancer, or (as I like best) an actor. But my son came up with a new name - “ballerina”. He says since mom is a ballerina, dad must be a ballerina. This word amuses me, and then, as I was told, in Spanish “ballerina” means just a ballet dancer.
“Ballet dancers and ballerinas are forced to go on a diet for life, eating water and salad.” This is fundamentally false, and if you ask ballerinas, they basically eat everything - their diet includes meat, chocolate, and cakes. The Bolshoi Theater has its own bakery and pie shop, where they make very tasty pies with cherries, apples and cinnamon - many people also love them very much. After the premieres, we can afford both champagne and a glass of wine, so there are no restrictions, because physical activity compensates for everything. In general, everyone monitors their own internal state.
“A real man won’t go to ballet, only homosexuals work there.” This is actually very stereotypical thinking. In our profession there are indeed a lot of people of unconventional orientation, but to a greater extent this is probably still characteristic of Western teams. This is not welcomed in Russian groups. I would say that the dancers in our troupes are men who practice the art called ballet. I don't know what others think, but I'm proud to be a traditionalist in this art form.
“Ballet dancers retire at 40, but ballerinas prefer not to give birth, because it can ruin their career.” As for the fact that ballerinas prefer not to give birth, it happens differently in everyone’s life. Someone finds their prince early, the person with whom they want to spend the rest of the time allotted to us on this planet. Therefore, there are ballerinas who give birth at 18 years old, and there are those who give birth at 36 or even 47 years old, so there are no rules here. A striking example is Diana Vishneva. She first made an amazing career, and not so long ago gave birth to her son Rudolf. In any case, no career and no ballet can compare with the feeling when you have a child.
As for retirement, if your body allows, you can still last until 40. Artists such as Svetlana Zakharova, Roberto Bolle, Ulyana Lopatkina are people of unique capabilities and abilities, so perhaps it is a little easier for them to keep themselves in the proper shape for ballet in order to continue dancing at the turn of this age. Often the term of a ballet dancer is 18 years for a corps de ballet and 15 years for a soloist. After 15 years of experience, you can receive a pension certificate, but at the same time you continue to work as long as the theater and the manager need you.
“The world of ballet is so closed that ballerinas and ballet dancers prefer to create families exclusively in their own environment.” This is most likely due not to the fact that people are closed, but to the fact that we do not have enough free time to attend some places. Our work is intense and takes up all the time, and when you only have one day off a week, you prefer to lie at home.
Sometimes a person from the outside who lives an ordinary life does not understand why we sacrifice our time, emotions, does not understand our faith in what we do, so sometimes people from ballet face certain difficulties. Therefore, if it happens that people find soulmates in our field, it is often a very strong and strong marriage.
“Ballet dancers don’t have days off or vacations. In order not to lose shape, they must practice every day.” We have days off, but in troupes it’s one day. At the Bolshoi - Monday, at the Stanislavsky Theater - Tuesday. In Western-style troupes there is either one or two days off. Paid vacation is 56 days, but tours are often organized during this period, so this results in additional work.
Even when we have a vacation, people can lie around for a week, but then they begin to warm up, so often artists do something while on vacation - doing the splits, working out their abs, someone running in the morning... In any case, they do physical activity, because when you've been working for 11 months, you can't just lie like an eggplant on the sunbed - otherwise it will be hard when the season starts.
“The world of ballet is cruel. To eliminate rivals, the most cruel methods are used, even putting broken glass in pointe shoes.” The world of ballet is truly cruel, but it also has its pleasant moments. Of course, not everyone can cope with that psychological, rather than physical, load. But for it to get to the point where people were throwing glass or ruining suits... I heard about this, but I haven’t encountered it myself; it’s hard for me to say from personal experience. I am a kind person, and I have never had any thoughts of doing anything bad for artists. On the contrary, if you just support it, because everyone who prepares a performance or dances understands perfectly well that a person prepares, tunes in and puts his soul into his work.
Rather, such things can be seen in films to enhance the dramatic effect and sense of competition. But in general, it can be compared with sports: if an athlete prepares for the Olympics for four years and then participates in it, for an artist “preparation for the Olympics” ends with graduation from college, and it itself lasts until the moment you leave ballet .
“However, broken glass is not necessary in ballet, because everyone who practices this art makes their feet bleed.” Men - no, but ballerinas - yes, because they dance in pointe shoes. By the way, this is another common misconception: everyone thinks that men dance in pointe shoes, but this is not so. We dance in pointe shoes only if the role requires it, as in Alexei Ratmansky’s ballet “The Bright Stream.” Ballerinas really wear their fingers bloody: this happens because due to constant intense friction, calluses arise, which then burst - in general, everything, as happens with ordinary people. It just happens to ballerinas more often.
“In every musical theater there are people who are personally known to all the artists: they are the ones who especially zealously shout “bravo” after each performance and receive free tickets for this. The artists respect and fear them, since not only their success can depend on these people, but also and complete failure." Such people really exist; they are called “clackers.” These are people who clap and shout “bravo” much louder than ordinary visitors. Often they go too far and do it too deliberately, so that it begins to irritate not only the audience, but also the artists themselves. But I wouldn’t say that the artists are afraid of them: I think that in any case, whatever you danced for, they will slap you.