Fourth on Pointe

[ascballerina]

When I'm doing an échappé to or a relevé in fourth position on pointe, I feel like I'm sickleling (sp?) on the back foot (and not on the platform of the shoe on the front foot, but I know the reason for that: my ankles are not flexible enough). My question is, am I supposed to feel like I'm sickleling, and that's just the way you stand, or am I doing something wrong?

[Victoria Leigh]

Nope, not supposed to be sickling. Ever, in any position! But you said "feel like you are sickling". Have you looked in the mirror to see if you are or not, or has your teacher mentioned it? It would not be unusual for that to happen, as the position of the back foot in 4th on pointe is actually a bit different, in that it is more over the big toe and not the center of the platform. However, the front foot should be on the center of the platform. Make sure you are getting your weight evenly distribulted between both feet, and that you are fully rotated on both legs, then work the back foot until it is not sickled. It takes either the teacher helping you, or you understanding what it should look like and then working in front of the mirror sideways, so that you can see the position of the back foot.

[ascballerina]

Ok. I have actually looked in the mirror, and it looks to me like I'm sickling, but it's hard to tell from that angle, particularly if the position of the back foot is slightly different than I'm used to. Maybe I'll ask my mum to take a picture so I can see better. My teacher hasn't said anything, but I do have a big class, and we don't stay in the position very long. More rotation is probably something I need to do, but I think I have my weight distributed on both legs evenly. Thanks for clarifying, Ms Leigh!

[Victoria Leigh]

You can best see the shape of the back foot if it is the one nearest the mirror. In other words, stand with your right side to the mirror and your right foot in back and look at it.

[ascballerina]

Ok. I will try that tomorrow!

[ascballerina]

Ok, I'm back. I did ask my teacher about it, and she also told me to increase my rotation. However, when I do this, the "sickling" feeling just intensifies. I looked in the mirror, and I honestly couldn't tell if it was actually sickling, particularly if

 

the position of the back foot in 4th on pointe is actually a bit different, in that it is more over the big toe and not the center of the platform.

 

and I don't know what to look for. I tried looking online (Google search), even though I know this is iffy and not the best way to do things, but I couldn't actually find anything that showed it from a good angle anyway.

[Victoria Leigh]

Asc, your teacher really should see it if you are sickling, and she should know how to fix it. If she doesn't there is a problem there.

[ascballerina]

Ok. Then I must not be! Thank you.

[Clara 76]

I wonder if you might be confusing "sickling" with "winging"?

[ascballerina]

I thought winging went the other way? Winging goes outward, and sicking inward?

[Clara 76]

When sickling, the heel is moved to the exterior of the leg, the toes towards the interior; when winging, the heel moves forward, toes outward without the ankle articulated. The correctly pointed foot has the ankle fully articulated, toes back, heel forward. Naturally, when in 4th en pointe, the foot might have a more winged shape, but as long as the ankle is fully articulated, you're fine.

[ascballerina]

That sort of happens in the front, but not the back.

[Clara 76]

Do you mean your front foot is sickling or winging in 4th en pointe?

[ascballerina]

Front foot might be winging if I had the flexibility in my ankle. (I;m not sure I do)

 

But the back foot most decidedly is not winging. Should it be?

[Clara 76]

Your feet have to shaped as well as pointed, always in all positions. The shape is the same as sur le cou-de-pied wrapped position, with the ankle fully articulated, heel forward, toes back, period.

 

When en pointe, your weight is directed to your big toe, front of the platform, fully articulated ankles, fully pointed and shaped feet. Therefore, when en pointe in 4th, your front leg should be rotated, ankle fully articulated, feet pointed and shaped, with body weight directed over the big toe, front of platform, and the back leg should be fully rotated, ankles fully articulated, foot shaped as well as pointed, body weight over the big toe, front of platform on the floor. This means that the back foot will not have the pinky toe side of the platform flat on the floor. If that side is flat you are probably sickling, or you do not have your weight evenly distributed between both of your legs.