Having trouble doing my Fouette's on pointe?

Question

but i easily do fouette's on Demi's why not pointe? my chenet's also!!! i waver and loose balance or just fall or simply don't make it to my focal point or partner ....i've been a dancer for 11 years so what's the deal my shins hurt every time i try on pointe and my knee kind of locks as well I've tried everything from icey-hot to bandages to ice packs and even knee holders i don't know , i got main and the show this year and i don't want to mess it up

Is it something i'm doing wrong? is it stress?

Any dancer that's been dancing longer than me with advice? I use Gaynor Minden's

Answer 1

first, start by doing lots and lots of releves at the bar in first, second and fourth, this to build up your leg muscles. This will help with the strength needed for balance.
second, for the chenet's, it may possibly be due to spotting. If your spotting is off, then your balance will go.
also, for your fouette's, work on doing piques, double piques and chenets first, alternating (2 chenets, 2 piques, 2 double piques, repeat). Once you can do those without falling out of them, then try the fouette's. Being on point, there is obviously less contact with the floor and your center point has to be flawless. And, you have to make sure your arms and leg are in perfect synch with each other. Also, be sure to plie enough when you come out of your fouette, as not enough will cause shin splints, this might be your pain you are feeling. Try Tiger Balm in a warm bath. As for your shoes, IF you are a beginner pointe, which it sounds as though you are not, perhaps intermediate, you might try a different shoe. I used to always wear Freeds'. Even during performances. Good Luck!

Answer 2

You sound very worried, so I'd think stress could definitely be a factor. The more you concentrate the worse you do, right? The shoes matter a lot. You could try other brands to see which ones suit you the best. Some swear by Freed of London's, or Block's or Capezio. It's very personal. And you've got to make sure they're broken in enough. The thing about these whipping turns is that there's so much to concentrate on, mostly "spotting", and catching up with the music, and not "travelling" (I mean for the fouette), that it can leave you a nervous wreck. (The Australian Ballet once claimed that their girls can do the fouettes on a 50-cent coin. I've seen a dancer travel the depth of the stage doing her 32 fouettes. If she had to do 33, she'd have fallen into the orchestra pit, but I guess I'd better not mention which country she was from!) I worry about your comment on the hurting shin and knee, cos they could make you vulnerable to injury. Actually it's your instep that needs to be super strong to give you that beautiful arch. I think you should see your ballet company's podiatrist or orthopaedic doctor to rule out physical problems before you decide that it's your technique that's the problem. If you're worried about technique, you could ask your ballet mistress to assess your style. If you can do everything else on pointe, then I guess it's just a matter of practice, practice and more practice. I hope also that you're protecting your toes adequately. Please do take care.

Answer 3

Sounds to me like you have two problems - core strength and technique. I think your core strength is an issue because you say you are having trouble en point when turning, but not on demi - that tells me that you have enough core strength to hold yourself through the turns, but not enough to support your weight as well. It is a complete myth that your toes support your weight while you are en pointe - most of your weight should be 'lifted' by your pelvic muscles. You should speak to your ballet mistress about floor work to improve your core strength.

The second problem is a little trickier to diagnose (and may be more than one). You need to speak to the most experienced ballet teacher you can find (your local ballet company may have someone who is willing to spend an hour or two with you) and have someone check your technique one-on-one from the ground up, both at the barre and in the open. Is your foot aligned properly? Do you 'pop' your ankle? How are your knees and hips? Is your turnout correct (this is the number 1 cause of knee problems in ballerinas and is difficult but essential to correct)? Until you have corrected your technique, you should do your class exercises on demi.

En pointe should not be painful when done properly (you may get blisters or friction burns on your toes, but the rest of you should not hurt!) It is my opinion that changing shoes alone won't solve the problem; though new shoes may help (particularly if your shoes are older than 6 months. . .they should be replaced at least that often).

Lastly, you need to be open and honest with your teacher that en pointe is causing you pain. If you take some time now to solve your issues, there is every possibility you will be in a position to dance the main show this year (and if your technique issues aren't yet resolved, they may be able to adapt the choreography to accommodate you). If you skip fixing your problems now, they will cause you more problems in future, and might even end your career. (I speak from experience. . .bad knee and ankle posture en pointe left me on crutches for six months after a bad Fouette on an unfamiliar stage, and ended my career as I no longer have full range of motion in my right ankle and therefore cannot dance. Period. Even at the club on Friday nights. I even walk funny and can collapse without warning. . .)