sports
Body and sole: ballet must hold on to flat-footed dancers, not stigmatise them
In an industry obsessed with ‘perfect’ feet, fallen arches can be seen as a barrier to success. But that’s a damaging myth that has excluded many from the joy of ballet
TL;DR
- The ballet industry has an obsession with 'perfect' feet, favoring high arches and stigmatizing flat feet.
- Black ballerinas Alex Maureen and Ruth Essel, both with flat feet, challenge the notion that it's an obstacle to success.
- Discouraging beliefs about flat feet in ballet are often perpetuated by teachers, leading to self-doubt.
- Performance on pointe is a combination of foot flexibility, strength, ankle mobility, and core strength, not solely arch height.
- Injury prevention is crucial for flat-footed dancers, requiring proper weight distribution and specialized support.
- Educators need to unlearn stigmas, adapt to different body types, and seek specialists when needed.
- Finding Black pointe shoe fitters is difficult, highlighting a need for more inclusive industry support.
- Proper pointe shoe fitting that works with a dancer's foot, rather than against it, is essential.
- Aspiring ballerinas with flat feet are encouraged to be kind to themselves and view their feet as a strength.