Some elements of dance technique are purely a matter of aesthetics. Others are a matter of preventing injury, and some are a combination of both. Teaching dancers to avoid sickling is a great example of one of these dual-purpose technical concerns. If a dancer is in the habit of sickling their feet in non-weight-bearing positions, […]
Q: I have an 8-year-old student who is coming along quite nicely in her technique, but I’ve noticed that one foot doesn’t point as well as the other. What’s up? A: Your student may have an os trigonum problem, where a tiny chip of bone from the talus is getting caught in the joint. Initially, […]
Q: I have adult ballet students who are asking me about foot cramping, soreness and achiness when dancing, especially in the heel and arch area. Could it be plantar fasciitis? A: Feeling soreness and pain in the heel and arch area can be a sign of plantar fasciitis. The plantar fascia is a thick band […]
Working with a 9-year-old student, Alexandra Koltun asks the young girl to face the barre. She reviews fifth position, demi-pointe with the front foot and coupé devant. “I separate all the positions, so the student understands each one,” says Koltun, founder and artistic director of Koltun Ballet Boston. She reaches down to shape the girl’s […]
I have plantar fasciitis. What do I do? —Jacqueline Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation of the fascia on the bottom of your foot. Fascia is a sheet of connective tissue that surrounds muscles. The traditional first step is to roll out your foot on a ball. Next, you’ll want to check other areas that may […]
After long hours on your feet, it may be tempting to slip on a pair of toe separators to passively stretch your toes apart as you unwind. However, you might want to think twice. According to Dr. Thomas Novella, a podiatrist who works with professional dancers in New York City, there is no clinical proof […]