By Geri on Wednesday, February 14, 2001 - 10:35 am:

Hi everyone,
Perhaps rather foolishly, I've decided to take up Ballet again because I love dancing and plie's etc. seem to strengthen my calf muscles, which make my injured knee feel MUCH less painful.

I keep thinking back to a post in which someone said that pointe was impossible with flat feet. Is this so? This has been a depressing thought which i cant get out of my head whenever i try and practice - is it true?

Also do any experienced people know how to stop foot cramp when one pointe? I get this most horrible cramp in one foot.
Anyones opinion much appreciated.

By Sam on Sunday, June 10, 2001 - 12:22 pm:

Hey there, I have done ballet for 7 years, and have been going en pointe for 4.

I have the opposite problem to you, i have really overly arched feet and have to concentrate on straigtening them to balance, so I don't think it will be a problem going en pointe as long as you keep your ankles straight (in line with your legs). I have as yet to come up with a solution to foot cramp. I get it in my right foot every time! My teacher says get on with it! If you ever find the answer, please let me know

By Mickey on Sunday, June 10, 2001 - 03:52 pm:

Hi Geri and Sam,

Like both of you I lived and breathed ballet. Unfortunately for myself it wasn't to be. Problems with my hips sublaxing proved just too painful to bear, well that and when in arabesque, after I raised my leg it got stuck, and I couldn't lower it!!As for cramp, do you take any salt in your diet? Sometimes a lack of salt can cause cramps. If you get very hot and sweaty when training, this causes you to lose a lot of body salt, thus causing cramp. Its only an idea, but it might help.

All the best with the training, and carry on enjoying it.
Mickey

By Kati Schroeder on Thursday, March 21, 2002 - 01:26 am:

Hey everyone!

I am not able to dance anymore, but I did for about eleven years. I had (and still have) very flat feet that also role inwards b/c of week ankles. However, my ankles were quite flexible and I would often fall over the toe of my shoe and the box would be flat on the ground even if my knee was completely straight. If you have flat feet, I would recommend getting Gaynor Mindens as opposed to other brands. Although they are often called the "cheaters shoe" b/c the arch is manufactured in, you might find them helpful. I personally hated them b/c of the arch issue and b/c they tore about an eigth to a quarter of an inch of skin off of each toe (though perhaps my pair was defective...) Most people don't wear any padding in them b/c they have built in cushioning, but if you have unstable toes "toe flows" or bun heads brand of gel pads - they are great b/c the gel doesn't move around like toe flows.

Good luck with your dancing to you all - try not to give in to the pain of HMS. -Kati

By Gem on Friday, January 21, 2005 - 12:52 pm:

One of my dance teachers used to get terrible cramps when she went on pointe. She was recommended a herbal remedy, not that I can remember what this was called - useful i know, but Im sure if you popped into a chemist/herbal shop theyd be able to help. I know it really helped her.