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 "fingers".
Today, there are enough companies manufacturing ballet shoes. And the ballerinas of the Bolshoi Theater have a choice. I'll 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 will be discussed today.
I will allow myself a lyrical digression. Unlike many, for almost 30 years I have been dancing exclusively in Bolshoi ballet shoes, made to my measurements. Tried different ones. Of all the variety, except for the native "fingers" I feel great in Capezio. It's not like dancing in Geynor, I just can't walk. Although they are loved by many leading ballerinas. But as they say - the taste and color.
Let's continue.
Shoes initially have a curved arch. For some, this may be convenient. To me - no.
Piglet shoes are a very important part, if not the main one. After all, it is on it that the ballerina stands. I remember I was surprised when I came to the Bolshoi and saw pointe shoes with a heel no more than a five-ruble coin.
Now nickels are twice, or even three times more. It is considered more comfortable to stand on a large, wide heel. Maybe.
Shoes without straps. Each ballerina sews as she pleases. Since I didn’t intend to use shoes, I didn’t sew on ribbons either.
In profile, the leg in the shoes looks quite nice, but in full face - the folds become visible. Knowing how the Bolshoi shoes are arranged 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 get on your toes in them (it was always interesting why) and you need to sew an elastic band to the heel of the shoes so that the heel does not come off.
To begin with, we rip off a penny. On Geynor, it is sewn separately, unlike other shoes. Under the fabric ... plastic and a piece of thin foam rubber !!!
Now I seem to understand why in many ballet photographs the nails are affected by the fungus. Legs, fingers in plastic DO NOT BREATHE!!!
We take out the insole, which by the way is also made of synthetic material.
On the reverse side is glued thin foam rubber.
We look into the shoes and there ... Also plastic. That is why it is difficult to stand on half toes. The plastic is quite hard and hard to bend.
There is a thin film of foam rubber under the heel between the fabric and the plastic insert in the shoe.
So the shoes from Geynor look without plastic filling. The inner fabric is also synthetic!
Such is the "beauty" I have left from the right or left shoes. Dismantled almost for parts.
The only natural material is the sole. It's suede.
Beginning ballerinas and spectators of ballet performances think about how to stand on pointe shoes. To the dancers fluttering on the stage, everything seems to come easily. In fact, behind the removed theatrical shoes are bloody calluses, sprains, ankle injuries. Professionals do not recommend mastering the practice of pointe on their own, because even beginner students of ballet schools are trained for this for a whole year.
Learning to stand on pointe shoes: real or not?
It can be difficult for a person without professional training to stand on their toes. If behind the experience of visiting the studio rhythmic gymnastics with many hours of standing on toes or academic dance - the chances of a successful result increase. But there are nuances.
- Increased stress on ankle ligaments knee joint, spine in lumbar may develop varicose veins.
- In pointe shoes, it is easy for a non-professional to get a sprain or rupture of ligaments or muscles; normal walking or a further dancing career can be put to rest.
- Academic dance teachers do not share the desire of girls to study ballet on their own, even using video lessons. The ideal option is to visit a ballet studio with an experienced teacher. He will select a set of exercises, taking into account physiological features specific student.
How to stand on pointe shoes? Need training!
How to stand on pointe shoes?
It takes a long time to develop the foot, there must be strong calf muscles. To stand on pointe shoes correctly means to stand on your toes. Much depends on the elevation of the foot. Girls who can walk in high heels are less likely to have this problem.
Exercise can help prepare the muscles.
- Half squats and work at the barre will be able to develop the right muscles. You need to learn how to properly pull your fingers both on your own and with an assistant. It shouldn't hurt, it's good if you feel slight discomfort.
- Walking on toes around the house, going up and down the stairs is useful, you will have to give up the elevator.
- Does it hurt to stand on pointe shoes? Painless this process only for professionals. Up to 5 minutes you will have to stand against the wall - exactly, on your toes, so that the foot is completely, except for the fingers themselves, the knee, buttocks, and shoulder blades touch the vertical support.
- The rubber band stretches the foot away from you and towards you, the leg should feel resistance.
- The development of the muscles of the legs with semi-squats will also help, when the heels are connected, the socks look apart, the knees are slightly bent. From this position, you need to try to put your feet on the toe and return to initial position lowering the foot to the heel.
The beauty and ease of movement will come with time, when the slight pain subsides. It is important to slowly perform the exercises and only after warming up the muscles.
I love it when some specific things are told in an accessible language, and vice versa, I can’t digest people who talk about their specialized knowledge from the point of view that they are not available to anyone else. The vumn.ru forum became a disturber of my calmness: I wandered there by chance in search of what a “jump” is. I did not find the answer, but the dialogue was amusing. The girl asks there if it is possible to get on pointe shoes at the age of 25+ (what to ask - take it and do it!). Women immediately ran up (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 pulling climbs since childhood, and in general, this lady cannot raise this leg higher than 90 degrees ...
Firstly, who told you that the dancer understands something in teaching ballet or is he familiar with the technology he was taught? But who ever said that actors, athletes or singers are such smart people that it is worth listening to their opinion? Secondly, I don’t understand, I like it - study, try, work, achieve. Unfortunately, in our country we don’t have such a mania for different hobbies: in the states, in Europe, in China there are many amateur schools where people seriously (otherwise it’s impossible in the classics) do ballet for themselves (and not in order to perform). Why not? There are far slingo mothers (you know those with small children who wear them in a special scarf), who are right with the sling and the child and stand by the stick. Thirdly, buy pointe shoes, and then we'll see...
How to choose?
Of the 15 last parameters, most (nickle, closeness, insole type, cutout and lace) are what distinguishes pointe models from one another (for example, 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 stiffness of the insole (and, sometimes, the material and color).
Most manufacturers have visual ways to choose a model, and brand stores have a pointe fitter specialist.
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 one definitely won’t be enough). They are not durable: the rigidity of the box and the insole begins to decrease under load, which means that it becomes more difficult to stand on your toes. Sometimes the insole just breaks. Professionals change pointe shoes and ballet flats often, this does not threaten an amateur. Although today there are durable pointe shoes of the company Gaynor Minden(and not only they master this technology), manufacturers write that they are high-tech, but there is another problem: they don’t break, they don’t break in, it’s just that the outer material becomes completely unusable (they cost 2-3 times more than 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 you wear?
When new pointe shoes are bought, unlike sneakers, you can’t put them on right away. They need to be prepared. With sneakers, in general, everything is too easy: there are even laces and they are already inserted! And to begin with, ribbons are sewn to pointe shoes, and not just anywhere, but at the top of the instep, in the place where support is needed - it is individual for each, so the ribbons go separately. Although there is another simple way: the place is selected by a bent heel.
Of course, they are sewn by hand, with a thread and a needle, then they are cut to length and melted (sometimes the cut is treated with varnish or glue) so that they do not stick out and crumble. An elastic band is optionally sewn on, which holds the heel and the lace is tightened.
Now they can be fixed on the leg. But that's not all: if we talk about professionals and experienced amateurs, they prepare pointe shoes more carefully.
The upper fabric is sometimes cut off from the penny, sewn with threads around the perimeter or a leather overlay is glued, beaten with a hammer to remove the corners.
The box is kneaded (the manufacturer says that this is not necessary, and these are relics of the past, but here, as they say, all felt-tip pens are different in taste and color - 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 , get up with their heels on top, clamp the door ... in general, they scoff as they want.
The insole is bent, especially in the heel area, sometimes it is torn off in the upper part from the sole (as I understand it for a more aesthetic appearance on the half-toes), give it a shape and simply soften it by itself.
Some professionals soak pointe shoes in a special way, or rosin inside, or ... in general, everyone has their own ritual, but an amateur is up to them, like to Zakharova ...
And now it's possible?
Now it's too early to put on pointe shoes. It will look like this, although it should be different.
And the point here is not that the sides are ridiculous and unaesthetic. You simply cannot dance with such legs: there will be either a fracture or a serious deformity in the ankle area. This is about how to climb a steep hill, put on skis and push off - hypothetically, you can completely reach the foot, but an adequate person without minimal training will not do this.
In order to en pointe you with your foot, which is usually in the L position, 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, and in childhood it stretches more easily.
In addition to stretching the lift, it also needs to be pumped. This muscle is developed in an ordinary person sooooo weakly. There are dance exercises Plie and Releve.
What it is? Grab something, stand sooo straight, as much as you can, connect your heels, and spread your toes apart (something like V), and now squat, without turning off your ass, as if you swallowed a crowbar, without lifting a single millimeter of your feet off the floor . Squat as low as you can - that's Plie.
And now, without lifting your fingers from the floor and without filling up your foot, climb onto your tiptoes (half-toes). Now you just lift your heel off the floor, go higher, higher, and more, now push 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, yes, those very toes that a healthy sane person does nothing with, but football players, for example, train them. They don’t do anything for this: they do push-ups on them, move loads, walk up the stairs, swing with an expander.
As with any activity, 10,000 hours will make you an expert. Swing 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 a pumped-up instep, which makes the foot huge (but strong, and it looks beautiful in pointe shoes), as well as X-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 - 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 really is beautiful, beautifully built and artistic) it would be great if she were not an ardent supporter of PZh&V.
But this, of course, does not threaten mere meters :)
And is it safe at all?
Occupational risk and disease
Ballet has never ceased to amaze people all over the world. And the ballerinas seem like air fairies, for whom the laws of gravity do not exist. In fact, such ease is explained by years hard work, and occupational illnesses are a common occurrence in the field of ballet. Ballerina's legs - the most vulnerable spot. They are unusually strong, strong and hardy. It cannot be otherwise, because they have to withstand the weight of a woman's body on a tiny patch of the floor when she is standing on tiptoe in pointe shoes.
This is the side of the coin that is inaccessible to an ordinary viewer and appears only behind the scenes. The most common injuries among ballerinas are sprains, sprains and dislocations. Frequent and injuries hip joint, which can lead to a number of inflammations in the pelvic area.
professional and prerequisite is a break in the instep of the upper part of the foot, which consists in a forced sprain of the ligaments. In order to perform this unnatural bend, any objects are used. Due to constant overloads, the ligaments often do not withstand, and the entire ligamentous apparatus weakens and becomes loose. A ballerina's feet without pointe shoes don't get better with age. It is not uncommon for a leg to twist easily when running or jumping. The result of such beauty will be arthrosis, arthritis and thrombophlebitis.
The first signs of leg diseases among ballet dancers are associated with impaired blood circulation. Toenails change their color and thickness, that is, they either thicken or become brittle. Gradually, veins appear, which more and more noticeably shine through the skin on the ballerina's legs after the performance. Do not console yourself with hopes that this is just a cosmetic defect. Over time, the veins thicken and become more and more tortuous. They are easy to feel after physical activity. With the progression of the disease, the legs are filled, there is a feeling of heaviness in them. This is partly due to oxygen starvation of the muscles. In the veins, the processes of stagnation of blood begin.
After a certain period of time, convulsions may begin calf muscles. Oxygen deficiency is also a characteristic feature of foot disease in ballerinas. There are swelling on the legs, there may be traces of skin - rashes and itching on the skin. The final stage of the development of the disease in the absence of timely treatment will be ulcers on the legs, blockage of blood vessels, and ruptures of the veins with subsequent bleeding.
Features of the structure and appearance of the legs
The legs of a professional ballerina without pointe shoes do not always look attractive. Another characteristic feature will be the so-called valgus deformity of the foot and the formation of bumps on the fingers. These phenomena are directly related to significant overloads that one has to experience during training and performances. They are expressed in the appearance of visible thickenings, which not only interfere with wearing shoes, but can also become inflamed and bleed. The deformation of the fingers looks like a curvature of them inside the foot, which begins with the big toe and can gradually affect the rest.
During the dance, the artist's foot experiences tension that goes beyond natural data. Over time, the forefoot becomes flattened. As a result of movements on the fingers, transverse flatfoot, and the extreme metatarsal bones diverge to the sides and the forefoot expands. Development hallux valgus due to the fact that the ballerina's shoes tighten the leg in diameter, and due to the movement at the fingertips, the load on thumb colossal. Another feature of the development of the legs is the thickening of the metatarsal bones and the change in the length of the toes. Movements during the performance of the dance are directed around the axis of the foot. The foot twists and unrolls in opposite directions relative to the anterior and posterior sections.
The feet of a ballerina without professional shoes - pointe shoes require the highest care and attention in order not to hide them from prying eyes. For preventive purposes, the artists take contrast baths, make compresses, which help soften the feet and relax the leg muscles. IN free time ballerinas try to put their feet on any available elevation in order to improve blood circulation in the lower extremities.
Almost every woman, when she was a little girl, dreamed of becoming a ballerina and conquering peak after peak at the very tip of her fingers. And, it would seem, if in youth it was not possible to go to pointe shoes, then you can forget about a childhood dream? Not at all! There is a chance to learn to dance at your fingertips at any age. The main thing is a great desire!
What should adults do?
Before you take up ballet on your own or go to a studio with a teacher, you need to get permission from a doctor. This is because the exercises that will be studied load the joints, as well as the spine. Also, such a load is dangerous when varicose veins veins, so keep in mind that Negative consequences dancing must be prevented.
Usually in ballet studios and choreographic colleges they put students on pointe shoes only at the end of the first year, and at the same time every day is accompanied by intense training. Adults will need more time to digest. basic exercises. First of all, you need to properly stretch the muscles of the entire body, and then learn how to balance. To achieve these goals, complexes are made up of various gymnastic exercises, some power load in the form of shallow squats, as well as leg movements at the barre.
First, students hold with both hands, then they need to learn how to use one hand, and eventually do all the exercises without the help of hands. The most common question is how old do you get on pointe shoes. And the answer is clear - the sooner the better.
How to do pointe shoes at home?
In order to realize your sword, you need to make sure that the muscles of the legs are sufficiently developed, as well as develop the instep of the foot. How to get on pointe shoes without pointe shoes? Training should start with the calf muscles, the most normal walking at an accelerated pace. Running is the next level. To start with, choose comfortable shoes so that walking is as enjoyable as possible, and over time, you can return to shoes with higher heels. Another available exercise is carried out right on the stairs. Stand on the step with your toes so that the heel does not touch the surface. In this position, you need to rise and fall to start about 30 times in 4 sets.
Foot stretch
This step is best done under the supervision of an experienced specialist. If you deal with this issue on your own, using videos and special literature, you can harm yourself, because each person is individual, and when training, one should take into account the peculiarities of health and capabilities. If you are just starting out training, you can try stretching your fingers with the help of someone.
First, warm up your feet well, for this you should sit on the floor, stretch your legs and ask the assistant to gently press on the arches of the feet until discomfort appears. Be sure to keep your knees straight, after stretching your feet, pull them towards you. But more serious exercises can be performed only under the supervision of a professional, so as not to harm yourself, especially if a person decides that he is ready to do everything to get on pointe shoes.
How to wear?
How to get on pointe shoes? The difference between ballerina shoes and ordinary shoes is in the main purpose. It lies in the fact that the foot should be fixed in a specific position during the dance. Therefore, the rules for wearing pointe shoes are special. To do this, you will need the following components: the pointe shoes themselves, a hammer, satin ribbons, liners, a needle and thread.
Instruction
The first thing you should do when choosing pointe shoes is, of course, try them on. The toe of the shoes is a kind of box, which should be hard and narrow, while the shoes should tightly wrap around the foot in order to fix the foot in the same position. If you neglect this rule, then soon the uneven load on the fingers will backfire with injuries and constant falls.
Another important rule is that it is forbidden to immediately pull brand new pointe shoes on the legs. First you need to prepare them for use. First of all, inspect the sock, if it is too hard, then you need to knead it with a hammer until it is soft enough. Also, in order for the foot to sit comfortably and securely in pointe shoes, you need to take care of special liners. They are silicone, fabric, paper. These options are considered not only the most convenient, but also suitable for repeated use. Pointe shoes are put on as follows:
- inserts must be placed in shoes;
- then wrap the ribbons around the ankle several times, tie them;
- remember that it is not recommended to tighten the tapes too tight so that blood circulation is not disturbed;
- hide the ends of the ribbons so that they do not interfere with you during the dance.
And most importantly - do not start dancing in pointe shoes on your own, you definitely cannot do without the help of a specialist. Otherwise, serious injury may result.
