Pointing feet correctly

[Niphredil]

This is perhaps a stupid question, but lately I've heard things that made me wonder. What I've heard is that you should absolutely not use you achilles tendon to point you foot. Is this correct? I have always used my achilles tendon, and if I try not to, I always end up scrunching my toes. I don't know if it has to do anything with the fact that my feet are flat and the ankle not very flexible. I would really appreciate your help on this!

[vrsfanatic]

I too have heard this "idea" many times over the years of studying and teaching ballet and to this day I still do not understand it. In layman terms...The achilles is used when you point your feet. It is a tendon, not a muscles so the function is to attach the muscle to the bone, therefore if the muscle is functioning properly, the tendon itself is functioning as it is meant to function. I would have to say, it is in use!

[Mel Johnson]

There is no way that you can point your foot and NOT use the Achilles' Tendon. That's what it does. I think that what you've heard is somebody trying to "build a fence around the law". What is actually the correct advice is: Don't strain your Achilles' Tendon when pointing your feet. Don't break your leg, either.

[Niphredil]

Well, that's what I thought too. Thank you for replying so quickly!

 

I have another question too, about the achilles tendon. How do you know that you're using it too much? Is it when it hurts? I don't know if I'm overusing it, but my ankles look bigger and the achilles is quite tensed/hard when I point my foot to the fullest, is this normal or am I doing something wrong?

[Victoria Leigh]

Yes, it's normal. When you fully point your foot the achilles is taut and strong.

[Niphredil]

Thank you very much, this really helped me!

[Guest Aly15grl]

i have heard this too, and have always been doubtful about it. One of my teachers told me that very few people can do this. However about a couple months ago, I was sitting in the car with my legs crossed and flexing and pointing my foot. Sometimes when I pointed it, my achilles would sink in, if you will. The achilles tendon would be flexed and taut, then under manipulation it would relax. I consulted my physical therapist about this, and she examined me and agreed that yes my achilles tendon was not flexed when I pointed my toes. She said she has never seen anything like it before. However, I can only do this when I try to. It does not automatically relax every time I point my toes. So it is possible to point your foot without your achilles tendon being taut, but it is very, very uncommon.

 

Alynn

[Victoria Leigh]

The only way that can be done is if you point your foot without engaging your calf muscle at all, which is really not possible when you are standing up and doing a correct tendu or extension or anything else.

When your foot is pointing while the rest of the leg is relaxed, it can be done. But, who would want to do that? It's really kinda useless

[Danzatriz]

i had been having some pain/discomfort on my achilles and was told that it was probably due to my "gripping" it while I pointed. I was told that when you grip it, it becomes stiff and enlarged, whereas when you pointe correctly, it is "inside" (not popping out), it feels softer and less tense -the achilles not the instep or pointe-, and the ankle looks less broad . It seemed to make sense to me, and i can see the difference when i grip and when i dont... and i thought this caused the pains... was i mislead? Is gripping not bad?

[vrsfanatic]

Danzatriz, without seeing you, it is quite difficult to know what you are doing, however one should never grip anything in ballet. In order to pointe your feet correctly, you need to contract the heel into the ankle by extending/lengthening the front of the foot, into the toes. There is a momentary strengthening of the toes at the highest level of the leg when it is extended. I am not discussing extention here by any means. This strengthening is important in battement tendus, b. jetes, ronde de jambe en l'air, grand battement, developpe...in every movement in the classical vocabulary. You can practice this in tendus to the direction side from 1st position. Do not move the toes as the first mechnic to pointe. The foot moves from the heel outward. Keep the heel down as long as you can as you lightly glide over the floor. The heel will lift naturally from the ground eventually because it must. This lightness of movement will help you to learn to utilize only the necessary muscles you need to pointe instead of gripping and forcing.

 

You also can understand this idea of the heel contracting if you stand in 1st position, keeping the ball of the foot on the floor, bend your working knee outward. you can do this as a weight bearing movement or not. It is an exercise for you to understand a mechanic, not a step in ballet!

 

Correctly doing releve to demi-pointe will also help to develope the correct usage of the ankle/achilles for pointed feet. This will then effect your allegro work and turning movements.

 

Understanding how to pointe your feet correctly is a major issue.

[Danzatriz]

Thank you vrs, your post was actually very clear and helpful, so Ill make sure to work on all of those (i just joined a really nice and slow begginers class to better work on my technique, so it's be a great chance to put your advice to work! )