| Of course, not every sprained ankle is pointe shoe | | | | platform, should the ankle/foot sickle out. This takes |
| related. Nor does every dance student work well in | | | | exceptional concentration in training. But, so does every |
| Gaynor Minden shoes. Good for some, not for others. | | | | correct finer detail of technique. |
| In ballet, there is a fashion of line in arabesque, of | | | | Pre-pointe training involves checking for alignment of |
| sickling out the working - the raised - foot. It may also | | | | the ankles in slow press ups - starting parallel. If |
| be sickled out in devant or a la seconde. The sickle out | | | | alignment is correct, turn out, and practise press ups in |
| emphasizes the turned out foot. As long as this never | | | | first, second, and fifth. Check for alignment of the |
| happens to a supporting foot on demi pointe, or pointe, | | | | ankles. Practise press ups on one foot, parallel, and |
| this is fine. | | | | observe the ankles. Strength follows with repetition. |
| Especially for those dancers with hypermobile ankles | | | | Repetitions done incorrectly set you up for injuries. |
| and feet, they must be careful not to sickle out as | | | | So while a shoe like Gaynor Minden has been crafted |
| they come down from pointe, while rolling through demi | | | | to help the dancer, like any brand shoe, it cannot |
| pointe. Even when the weight is being transferred from | | | | prevent injury if your working habits are not technically |
| the foot, to the other leg, the ankle and arch should be | | | | correct. |
| in line with the leg, not sickled out. | | | | The pointe shoe is only as good as the foot that |
| A foot in correct alignment can be sickled out the | | | | wears it! Hopefully you'll never have a sprained ankle. |
| second after the weight has left the foot - but not | | | | Paying attention to the finer details of your ballet |
| even at the last nano-second when the pressure of | | | | technique will help you build strength in the pointe shoes |
| weight can go onto the inner side of the pointe shoe | | | | of your choice. |