Pointe

[Chelsea(:]

During pointe class while we were doing bourres I was having trouble moving just from the ankle down, trying to not pick up my entire leg for the phrase. My teacher told me to re-tie my ribbons so that they are looser. I have pretty flexible feet and i'm very afraid of injuring my ankles, tendons, ect. How loose should my ribbons be tied? At the moment i'm dancing in Russian Pointe Brava's. They fit amazingly. I don't think that makes any difference for my question though. If it needs to be moved to Pointe Shoe Topics, i'm sorry!

[Victoria Leigh]

Chelsea, the ribbons need to be secure around your ankle, but not so tight that they limit flexibility. There is no way to describe in writing how tight, as that has to be seen. Check with your teacher about that when she can see you in the pointe shoes.

[onpointe2007]

I'm not sure how tight your ribbons are... but for me I had a problem with them being too loose because otherwise they would hurt.... so now I use the bunheads ribbons with the elastic in the back where the achilles is. I think these are really helpful because it give me more flexibility, but I stilll feel supported.

~onpointe2007

[Mel Johnson]

You just have to be VERY careful that the elastics on ribbons, if you use them, do not exert DIRECT friction and pressure on the Achilles' Tendon. That can cause a lot of difficulty, with tendinitis being only one of the possible outcomes.

[bunbun]

I am just seeing this now. I thought these ribbons with the elastic were suppose to help prevent achillies problems? how does one determine if there is too much friction? Are regular ribbons preferable to those with elastic?

[Mel Johnson]

See post #2 above.

[dancemaven]

Please note: This is the Young Dancers' Forum. Parents may read, but not post.

[mini_tutu9715]

During pointe class while we were doing bourres I was having trouble moving just from the ankle down, trying to not pick up my entire leg for the phrase. My teacher told me to re-tie my ribbons so that they are looser. I have pretty flexible feet and i'm very afraid of injuring my ankles, tendons, ect. How loose should my ribbons be tied? At the moment i'm dancing in Russian Pointe Brava's. They fit amazingly. I don't think that makes any difference for my question though. If it needs to be moved to Pointe Shoe Topics, i'm sorry!

 

My ballet teacher told me to flex your foot, and then tie the ribbon tight enough so it doesn't dig into your foot, but so that it is fitted comfertably and loose enough.

It works for me! (: