Padding your feet/arch

[Guest dancergal]

To be honest, I don't have very good feet. In fact, they are almost completely flat. And they have always been a problem. But recently I had my end-of-the-year evaluation with my teacher. She said that everything was really good for me, except for my feet. And I have been working really hard on them, ever since I realized that they were a problem. But no matter what I do, nothing helps. I have tried using Pro Arch, therabands, having my mom stretch my feet, and countless strengthening exercises. Except nothing works.

 

My teacher said that my feet might prevent me from having a career, but suggested that I try "padding them." She admitted that she wasn't 100% sure what it was, but that she had heard about it from other people. She said that there was an ad in Dance magazine for it, and that it would really help me out. She said that people like Irina Dvorovenko were using them, and that I should try look into them. But I have been looking, and I haven't been able to find anything. From what she told me, I think that it's some sort of thing that you wear around your foot which makes your arch look better... but when I asked her about it she said she didn't know, and just to keep looking. Has anyone heard about this? If you have, do you know where I could find them? Thanks!!!

[Mel Johnson]

I see no point in using them, except perhaps for stage. They are nothing but a sort of "falsie" instep that makes it look larger than it is. It doesn't do a thing for your arch. There's no use for them in class.

[emhbunhead]

Good for pictures and stage as Mr.Mel said, pointless for class. I see them kind of as wearing too many warmups, you dont get to see the muscle and how you are really working if you've got something covering. They have them in Discount Dance Supply - i believe they call them "Pro-Arch" or something of that nature. They are kind of like an AceBandage with a padded area along the top of the foot. I myself would consider them, just out of curiousity.... A former principal with BostonBallet who has moved on to another company uses these, and her feet look beautiful!

[ConstanzaElisabeth]

my teacher suggested one of the girls at my studio get these for performances to make her feet look better, she has decently arched feet but it doesnt show much en pointe, it was basically just to create the curve that makes those feet look so pretty. problem is it bunches oddly on demi or flat, especially in plie. and sometimes looks quite fake. you have to have very thin feet to look good in these i think, the long skinny kind. otherwise you just have fat feet.

[Mel Johnson]

Pro-Arch is actually a gizmo for stretching the foot. Works for some, doesn't work for others. You pays your money (lotsa money) and you takes a chance.

[emhbunhead]

Sorry, I said the wrong name ::eek:: the product i was talking about is called the "FancyFoot Arch Enhancer" thats for sale in DiscountDanceSupply

[Dancing on my toes]

I have the "FancyFoot Arch Enhancer". They do make my feet look lovely when I pointe. But as said before, they can bunch up in demi, flat, and plie. You kind of have to learn how to put it on your foot so it won't bunch up.

[Guest nln87]

I have those arch enhancers. I haven't been able to put them so they look natural. Like everyone says they do bunch up real bad when on flat. So I think they are quite useless, because even when dancing on point you have come down now and then!!!

[Swanilda]

The only point to wearing them in class (that I can see) would be if you don't want to wear something onstage that you aren't used to dancing in all the time. It seems to me that company directors might see this as cheating, espcially for auditions and such? Or maybe not? I know Joffrey used to suggest his dancers pad their arches (along with many other cosmetic suggestions)-- but it seems some people might not like it?

[Mel Johnson]

In theory, these things are kept in place by the ribbons of the pointe shoes. Mr. Joffrey advised using them only after a Soviet Union tour. He found that some Soviet dancers were using them, and passed the word on where appropriate. The other thing to consider is that when on tour, his company classes were sort of semi-public events. Therefore, a performance was a performance.

[Swanilda]

Interesting! I didn't know that. What is the general feeling on these in auditions?

[Mel Johnson]

I can't speak for anybody else, but an audition is a class, not a performance. I don't want to see phony in a class.