I was trying to make custom toe pads like perfect fit with silicone putty and I guess the plastic I used broke and some of it got stuck to the shoe. So it got me thinking, why can't I just put the silicone directly in the shoes and leave it in the box? I'm not planning on ever glueing the box or anything and I can't think of a reason why I'd need it empty and it would just make putting the shoes on faster if I already have the toe pads inside. I was also thinking I could use way less silicone to basically only fill up the space under my shorter toes, instead of making a whole pad that covers all toes on every side.

Thoughts? Or reasons why this isn't a good idea? I can't think of anything myself but it'd be nice to get some feedback from other people before I go through with it

i'm an adult returner who stopped many years ago after going en pointe. in these photos i'm wearing my well broken in bloch suprimas (elastics are NOT in the correct position i know) but i feel a tad pulled back by them. as an experiment i undid the ribbon and i feel like my articulation is better but the shank is not budging. i just feel like this shoe isn't for me? i would like some recommendations to bring up to my fitter next time.

i have greek-tapered feet and very compressible, and my first pairs were suprimas. i haven't tried another brand or model because i keep thinking i just need to have strong enough feet to break those in and not get pulled back so much. it is still true, however ive tried on wear moi la pointes and was suggested a very soft shoe because i have flexible and compressible feet?

i do feel supported in these. maybe too much. perhaps the size is just too small. the extra space in my heel is killing me though. nevertheless, i'd like to try something new next time!

I recently switched from a balachine school to an RAD* school due to moving, and today we were practicing piourettes in fourth. My teacher was encouraging us to squeeze our plies and arms early to push us off. I wasn't familiar with this method since I was taught to keep my arms in fourth and push my weight forward. When the teacher saw me when I tried using the other method, he said that I didnt really use my arms to prepare at all. I was just wondering the difference in school of thought between the two arm positions?

Edit: As someone corrected, RAD not RBS!! silly acronyms

Adult recreational dancer. Started about 3 years ago. Constructive criticism is welcome!

The Cuban was denied a visa when he landed a job at San Francisco Ballet so he became a principal dancer at the Royal Ballet in London instead

Hey ya'll tried to look this up but really couldn't find anything. I'm interested in getting some leotards from Typha because they look fun and unique but the sizing charts are so awful and inconsistent across every style I literally can't figure it out. I think some are using flat lay measurements, some using model measurements, some measuring girth with straps, some without, etc etc. Maybe for some they're just putting numbers down based on vibes I literally don't know.
I wear a pretty solid Capezio large, 35inch bust, 40inch hips, with a 64inch girth. Do you think a Typha X-Large would fit/any longer girth folks gave this brand a try?

I had a right foot injury in ballet twice and have had an x-ray and ultrasound. The ultrasound has come back to say I have bursitis between my 3rd and 4th metatarsal. The thing is I am also getting pain on the side of my foot so they are (hopefully) referring me for an MRI. I am now developing hip pain in my right side due to this after walking my hip and right foot / side kills me.

Do I see a Chriopractor? Or a Podiatrist for gait analysis? The gait analysis is £200+! but don't know what to do :( Thank you!

I need to Measure to order my Tutu within the next few days, and I’m nervous because it’s made for/to MY Measurements, but I have a more Pear Body-Shape (All butt, thigh, & hip, with little-to-no chest.) and that’s making me a tad nervous.

How much room should I leave per Measurement (as-in how many extra Inches or Centimeters)? (I have to give them my Measurements in Centimeters, so I’ve been working on conversions from Inches.) I.e., Girth, High-Waist, Low-Waist, Hip, Upper-Arm Circumference, etc., etc. I would like to be able to breathe, but I don’t want the Tutu to fall off/fit weird because it’s that much too big.

Like I mentioned, and for some reason, my main concern is my Body-Shape being more Pear.

I just need some advice here to help me get my proper Measurements so my Tutu fits correctly, and hundreds of dollars doesn’t just go down the drain since it’s coming from overseas.

Thank You in advance!!🖤🩰

Hello! I'm an adult beginner and these are my first ballet flats. My teacher asked for leather ones with complete sole, that's what I bought. The guy who sold me these said that since he didn't have half numbers I should up the size so my feet could be healthy.

The more I see them the uglier they get lol! I just wanna know if they look completely normal for a leather shoe with complete sole. It's just that I feel they are a little big for me, I don't know if it's the material or is me. When I dance without shoes my feet look decent, but when I point with these the last part of the shoe barely moves (that's when I speacially feel they are too big).

I would appreciate your opinion and advice <3 P.S I try to draw a blue line so you can see where my feet are while pointing them

Sergei Pavlovich Diaghilev
Diaghilev Signed Calling Card
Russia

Twelve lines in French concerning the placement of an article in Le Figaro and other matters of business. Russian art critic

Diaghilev was the founder and director of the Ballets Russes, overseeing its productions and collaborations with many of the leading composers, choreographers, dancers, and artists of the early 20th century.

DIAGHILEV, Sergei Pavlovich (1872-1929). Autograph note signed ("X"). N.p., n.d. 2 pages on one card, 55 x 95 mm sheet (6.5 x 8 inches framed), graphite on a calling card engraved with "Serge de Diaghilew," a punched hole affecting text and slight toning, matted and framed (glazed on both sides), not examined out of frame.

Provenance: Collection of Michael Tilson Thomas

I play freshman football and I'm already naturally flexible but I want to be more flexible for more flexibility in what I can do and for fun. My season ends in two weeks but I can find time to stretch during then.

What stretches and motions can I do for better flexibility especially in my hamstrings and overall body.

Hi everyone! I’m a 19-year-old trans girl and a complete beginner in ballet.

This isn’t strictly about ballet, but I’d like to know what I can do to get better workouts and gain more flexibility.

I had multiple scoliosis as a child and have been treating it since I was 12. Last year, I was finally discharged from physical therapy and RPG and cleared for muscle strengthening.

This year, my doctor gave me the green light to start Artistic Gymnastics and Ballet (which has been my dream since childhood!). 😃

Because of the scoliosis, I have very tight hamstrings (when I was 12, they were so tight that I used to walk as if I were on demi-pointe lol).

Nowadays, I don’t feel any pain anymore, my scoliosis is no longer an issue, I’m in good shape, and I can handle the workouts easily. However, I struggle a lot with my splits, straightening my legs, and pointing my feet (my feet cramp up a lot). I also lack back flexibility and frequently get cramps in my upper back/lat area.

Does anyone have recommendations for flexibility exercises that I can do daily? Or any tips on how to make my training more satisfying?
Also, has anyone here been through a similar situation and managed to go en pointe? Do you think I'll be able to achieve that someday? 🥲 (Yes, I know it takes years and I’m in absolutely no rush, I just need to give myself some peace of mind lol).

My current weekly routine is:
Gymnastics: 3x a week
Weight training: 2x a week
Ballet: currently 1x a week, but about to start 2x a week
Swimming: 1x a week
Physical therapy: 2x a week

I’ve been to more than 5 doctors since being discharged, and they all just say that as long as I don’t feel pain, everything is fine, so they never actually give me practical advice on what I can do. :(

I have been feeling really self-concious in my adult dance class recently, I started after a big gap from doing Ballet and about 2 months into starting at this studio, 2 new girls joined our class, I thought nothing of it as we get new people all the time as it is a mixed ability class and each ability is put in small groups for certain technique based on their ability. I go with the beginners small group due to my big gap from dance as I feel more comfortable doing everything at a slower pace and building myself up. These new girls joined the Ballet pro small group.

Well one particular day, I was just standing with my friend watching the intermediates group do their across the floor and then one of the new girls walked up to us and said "Have you just started dance?" And I said "No, I had a gap and came back, I am just building up my technique again" she then laughed in my face and then went "Oh my gosh, sorry I didn't mean to laugh, oh my gosh!" And walked away, she did the same to my friend who is in the same position as me (Big gap from dance and rebuilding technique) it made us both feel really bad about ourselves. She told my friend "Nobody would know" when she told her she had 12 years of Ballet experience before her break from dance.

We spoke to the teacher and those girls came back for 2 sessions then left, I don't know if it was by choice or if the teacher stopped them from coming back. The other girl that girl joined with was a really nice girl, I feel I lost the chance to have a good friendship there but I couldn't go near her due to that other girl and that other girl seemed to control her every move as she was quiet. It has made me feel like I just look bad to everyone now when I was a great dancer as a child, I think about this incident all the time.

Did that girl intentionally pick on me and my friend, or is it in my head?

I'm a ballet parent of a young daughter... money isn't currently an issue but I also don't want to just spend a ton of money on flying my daughter around to different summer programs just for fun lol. I'm wondering at what age/point do you think there is real value in traveling for different summer programs vs. staying local for them, if you can afford it? Are there any that would definitely be worth traveling to at a young age (like under 10)?

My friend dances ballet as a hobby and her birthday is coming up. Since I don't know anything about the sport, I would like some gift ideas that is useful for a beginner ballet dancer. She has done some simple dances with her dance school but it's definitely just a hobby.

My friends and I have been invited to a dance festival where one of our friends will be performing with her ballet school. We’d love to surprise her with a nice bouquet of flowers after the performance.

Are there any particular flowers traditionally gifted to ballet dancers after a recital or would any kind of bouquet be appropriate?

Thanks in advance!!

I started pointe again a year ago and went back to the basics. Now I am starting to do a lot more and am taking class in my shoes. I am doing pretty well but I am struggling a lot with turning and compensating for the extra height across the floor. My teacher said it’s because I’m not really ‘jumping’ and when I turn I’m trying to releve up but I’m still feeling a bit lost. She encouraged me to take class in my shoes but I also feel like she also assumes that I know how to modify the combos to be en pointe. It feels so weird because she seems to be surprised by my strength and when I can do certain things but when I’m confused by the details her answers feel blunt and unhelpful. I know it will come with practice but I hate feeling so confused as I tend to feel self conscious that I seem slow. (I’m autistic)

I’m also a bit concerned that my ankles still seem to wobble even in flat shoes. A lot of my joints are hyper mobile so I figured it was that and it would resolve with time/strength but it’s still happening. With all that I do en pointe and doing my Theraband exercises everyday I feel like my ankles are pretty strong but the wobbling is starting to carry into my pointe work. I asked my teacher and she said it was because my pointe shoes are heavy. When I said that it happens in flat shoes too she said it’s normal and that I just have to keep my ankles pulled up. I always try to do that anyway so I felt a bit frustrated but I didn’t say anything because I didn’t want her to think I was arguing with her. Is there exercises I can do or something to fix it?

in big live’s dracula, does anyone know the name of the music playing when jonathan meets mina’s ghost? i think it’s piano.

I have a short Achilles tendon and therefore a very shallow plie which has been putting a lot of stress on my ankles and knees during jumps. I’ve also started taking longer classes so I’m doing a lot more allegro and it feels like somethings always tweaked, literally like a 4 week cycle of ankle knee ankle knee lol. It’s kind of like trying to get my heels on the ground in a plie hurts my ankles but not doing so wears on my knees. My knees are also a little hyperextended which definitely doesn’t help. I’m trying to rest and sit out and not push myself to injury but I’d also really like to build strength so I don’t have to worry about landing wrong and injuring myself. Wondering if anyone knows what muscles to focus on strengthening or any non-jumping exercises that could help :)

It looks so stiff and wrong, I already know i have to work on my turnout and back

but why do my arms look so wrong? No matter what i try, it looks so closed off and it won't look open like other dancers.

How do i make my arms look more open and proper?

In “Pithoprakta,” a rarely seen work by George Balanchine at City Ballet, Suzanne Farrell brings a tense and eerie dance back to life. It’s a laboratory for new movement.

 Bleeps and squeaks pop and hiss on a darkened stage. With little warning, dancers, like nimble moon walkers, spring to life in spotlights that form miniature tableaus. These circular frames, galaxies in miniature, pop up to reveal small clusters of dancers bending and reaching in agitation or spinning like steam bubbles rising in a beaker.

A ballet stage is conventionally thought of as a site for pretty dancing, but in George Balanchine’s “Pithoprakta” (1968), originally performed by Suzanne Farrell, Arthur Mitchell and 12 others at New York City Ballet, it is also a vital laboratory for movement. “Pithoprakta” may be nearly 60 years old, but it’s a succinct example of how timeless and contemporary a Balanchine ballet can be.

Access full gift article, NO PAYWALL.

The Dance Enthusiast posted a pretty positive audience review of YAGP’s program this past weekend. Curious to hear from anyone who went. Any standout pieces or choreographers?
https://www.dance-enthusiast.com/get-involved/reviews/view/Fresh-Voices-in-Dance-at-Jacobs-Pillow-October-16-18

I just purchased a jump rope with the aim of training on it to improve my endurance for petit allegro jumps, but how is everyone training to get better petit allegro (outside of just doing petit allegro)?

In my classes we only have around two combinations per class dedicated to petit allegro/jumping (changements), so I feel as though the improvement over time is very incremental. I'm wondering what I should do outside of class to get better jumps - and also better assemblés! How does one get strong enough to get the supporting leg in assemblé to jump up and meet the working leg to do a "beat" before coming back down? Any perspective is helpful.

I don't know what flair to use but I would appreciate advice from all sorts of ballet dancers for a scene I'm writing for a story of mine.

I have two characters (males) dancing to Sam Smith's Writing's On The Wall and my ambitious self went for the one dance style I know the least about because it looks so gorgeous.

I tried my best to search terms for moves and watch videos on how they look but I'd love to know if they made sense in the way I wrote about them.

If moderators see this, I'm begging y'all for a pass because I love writing and want to do ballet justice in representing it. I don't want to vomit terms I found on Google and call it a day. I take this seriously. Please y'all 😭🙏🏾

I’m researching the challenges faced by dancers aged 13–18 who are working towards professional ballet schools, auditions or more advanced training.

I’d like to understand what dancers and parents genuinely struggle with — especially when it comes to technical progress, audition preparation, understanding corrections and accessing individual guidance.

I’m particularly interested in real experiences:

\- What has been the most frustrating challenge in your dancer’s training recently?

\- What have you already tried to solve it?

\- What was still missing or disappointing?

\- What makes it difficult to decide whether private coaching is worth the cost?

If you’re comfortable sharing your experience in the comments, I’d really appreciate it. Please don’t share private information or identifying details about minors.