scooping my toes?

[dancepig]

I've recently started taking an intermediate ballet class in a new studio, didn't quit the old studio, just adding two classes per week at a different studio. I like the new teacher very much, except she's always asking us to point our feet so that our toes are "scooping under". She will specifically tell me to not just stretch the top of my feet, but to scoop my toes. When I point my foot, I'm lucky if I can get a slight angle down, much less a scooped look. I have very tight ankles and achilles, along with a very high instep and arch. I'm thinking this is perhaps part of my problem? I have been taking pointe classes for several years now, so I believe my feet are strong, but no matter how hard I try, I can't seem to get my toes to "scoop". Any suggestions on how I might be able to get "scooping toes"? Thanks so much!

[Victoria Leigh]

"Scooping" your toes??? I don't THINK so! That sounds dangerously like curling to me, and if it is, you DO NOT want to do that.

[dancepig]

I asked about curling, and was told, no, not curling just scooping. I've seen professional dancers pointe their toes so that they had that shovel look to their feet, not crunching or curling just umm, scooping. I don't know how to post pictures on this board, so can't be of much help there, sorry for that.

[Victoria Leigh]

Okay, I guess it's just the choice of word she used. As long as it is not curling or crunching, I guess it might be okay. How you get that I assume would be to work on the total flexibility of the foot. Do you work with a theraband every day? I think that might help.

[dancepig]

I work with a theraband, but not everyday, guess I'll need to step it up! Thanks for the advice.

[Guest Ruth Z]

Hello: I have a very high arch as well, and toes that are rather long for the size of my foot. I find that I have to stretch (not curl but "reach") my toes actively to fully engage the muscles in the metatarsal arch as well as the longitudinal arch. When I just stretch to top of my foot and lengthen my toes, I don't get the line your teacher is asking for.

 

I agree with Victoria that a theraband is an excellent tool to help get the look you want. Another thing to try is an exercise using a tennis ball. You place the ball of your foot on the tennis ball (you are standing and the tennis ball is on the floor) and "shape" your foot around the ball not by curling but by stretching the arch and toes and then try to hold that position for a bit. Please note this exercise doesn't allow the ankle to stretch as it should - it's just for the foot.

 

Ruth Z

[Chronus24]

I interpret scooping as the quality of the dancer's feet to lengthen the line of the ankle joint, into the foot, and ending with the toes reaching long with a slight arch to continue the foot's line. It adds a suppleness to the strength of the foot so that it isn't so much like an on/off switch for "point/don't point" but if observed slowly would look like a fluid contagion.

 

To add to the above suggestions, try to lift each of your toes off the ground individually, as if you were trying to type with them. This will strengthen the intrinsic foot muscles as well as get the mind wrapped around the idea of articulating them better.

[dancepig]

I interpret scooping as the quality of the dancer's feet to lengthen the line of the ankle joint, into the foot, and ending with the toes reaching long with a slight arch to continue the foot's line. It adds a suppleness to the strength of the foot so that it isn't so much like an on/off switch for "point/don't point" but if observed slowly would look like a fluid contagion.

 

Thank you, I think this is a perfect description. I will try your suggestion, and with the other two ideas, perhaps I'll be able to scoop my feet some day!