Low Arches

[Guest Kirena]

I have really low, weak arches. This annoys me because I can never find pointe shoes of the right shank. Is there a way you can make your arch higher? Someone told me that it's impossible to make an arch higher because it is bone. I'm not quite sure.

[Mel Johnson]

You can't change the actual bones, but the foot is a complex structure, and many things can be done with it. The ligaments and the tendons, which are made of cartilage, have a lot to do with how a foot works and looks. Developing the foot properly to articulate well through tendus, degagés, frappés, battements fouettés and anything else, like a proper cou de pied position which involves a fully pointed foot, helps.

[tutumonkey]

Knock, knock, parent here. A little anecdotal evidence in relation to the low arches. DD had very flat feet with little apparent arch. After 3 years at her present studio (pre-pro) and very very hard work on her part she has developed an arch. It is possible. In relation to pointe shoes and finding the right shank, her foot bends the shank differently now ( closer to her toes), she uses a less stiff shank than 3 years ago and in addition she has gone down a width. Change for DD was made possible through lots of hard work, sweat and more sweat. Don't give up! Tutumonkey (Please delete if in-appropriate)

[puppies_fly]

I was born with almost flat arches, and this was one of the reasons my doctor suggested I start dancing. My arches currently are not the kind of foot you want to chop off and attatch to your own leg (like I often wish Icould do when I see certain pro's dancing) but they are definitely visible and work fine for pointe. In fact, starting pointe raised them even more.

[Guest Masha]

I have something sort-of relevant to this to ask in addition, and since it's related it might help the original poster to have it? Maybe?... I've looked around, but I tend to be blind when trying to find relevant threads.

 

 

 

I have really flat feet, and do relevés and theraband stuff to make my ankles stronger. I haven't done this long, so no results yet. However, would I be more likely to see results if I were to use an arch stretching device? (I've seen some that are just flat boards with a big piece of rubber on them, which you put your foot into...) Or are they just a waste of money? I'm guessing they could be dangerous if not used right... Any thoughts?

 

 

Thanks guys, sorry if this is too much of a hi-jack. I'm never sure what is or isn't ok here, in terms of replies...

[Victoria Leigh]

Masha, we have had a number of threads aboout those devices, but the concensus here is that we not convinced that they really do anything and yes, they could be dangerous. We feel that just very diligent work on your feet, with tendu, dégagé, pas de cheval, frappé, elevé, and relevés, plus of course the theraband work, will be better. And of course really learning to USE your feet well, with great articulation, can make them look a lot better.

[Pasdetrois]

Reading through this thread brings me to a girl in our studio. A lovely dancer with unfortunate feet. Pointe work became her nemesis. She has worked hard with good instruction for about five years. There was little improvemnet for years but she stuck at it. She was no where near over on her blocks always barely on the back. It was a difficult thing to watch but she stuck at it, as did a couple of the teachers who took a very personal interest in her. Today, at 17 she still doesn't have brilliant feet but she's just about on top of the block and can execute quad pirouettes as well as a series of fouettes. She always was a turner on demi but is now able to be a turner en pointe. The difference is amazing. Therabands have definately played a part, our school uses them from the tiniest child on up. We do have excellent training with knowlwdgeble teachers who truly care. This kid will never have brilliant banana feet. She will never have a brilliant arch, it's still quite flat. She most certainly has dramatic improvement. As with all our kids she may never be taken into a company but she has much more of a chance coz of the diligent attention paid to her and by her own efforts. I suspect no one has everything in ballet. All have the ability to work and it appears to me that in this instance it's really paying off, so, don't give up.

[Guest Kirena]

Can your foot change during time....... and maybe make arches higher?

[Victoria Leigh]

The arch and the instep will not actually get higher, but the more they are worked and the better they are used, the better they will look. What dancers usually call "arch" is really the instep, by the way.

[balletbaby183]

Hey my arches are really low too. As for finding the right pointe shoes, might I suggest Gaynor Mindens? Ask your teacher first, of course, though. Gaynor Minden shanks are made of plastic, and come in a variety of strengths (including some cool extremly bendy ones too, hehe they're fun ). I used to have trouble finding good pointe shoes too. Gaynors give me support but also let me pointe my foot fully. Also, the shanks are unbreakable and they last a LONG time. Very long.

 

Hope this helps!

[Victoria Leigh]

Definitely ask your teacher first before purchasing Gaynor Mindens. A lot of teachers do not like them at all.

[dance_through_life]

I am in no way recommending this so please do not just try it but, in the interest of sharing stories of dancers w/ flat feet, there was a lovely dancer who just left my studio for a finishing year at a residency program in Marseilles with flat feet. And they had literally NO arch to them whatsoever. I mean mine are low, but hers literally did not bend. She used therabands every day and worked her feet as much as she could, to the point where they looked fully developed in terms of strength and flexibility but were still very very flat. However, her feet got so strong during this process of improving her arch that she was able to completely remove the shank of her pointe shoes and still dance beautifully, with absolutely amazing hops and pas couru en pointe. I'm not recommending this, but I just want to encourage you that if you work at it you will improve, and it will work out in some way.

[tillie]

I don't know if this is relevant to all people, but I have arch supports because I pronate, but ever since I have had them my arch has also improved a great deal and looks higher. Do arch supports normally have that effect?

[balletdoll101]

What exactly are banana feet? Do your feet just have high arches or is there more to banana feet than that? Sorry if this question is kind of silly but I've been wondering for a while... Thank you!

[Chiaki122]

I'm not sure if this is appropriate to post here, so let me know if it's in the wrong spot, please. (I've been a lurker for a while but I think this is my first post )

I'm sort of confused about my feet. When standing they look flat with just the faintest hint of an arch, but when I point or releve I am told that my feet look very arched and nice. What is up with them? I've heard of something called a "functionally flat" foot which appears flat in some positions but can bend like it's arched nicely, is that true?

I understand you can't tell me much without seeing my feet, but maybe you could help clarify. Thanks!