Here is a selection of the best Q&A responses. If your question is not answered here, please click onto the Q&A page and fill in the form there, and then keep an eye out in your email for the response!
From: Shamir
Age: 14
Question: I'm just starting ballet and I'm 14!!!!! Will I ever be a great dancer?
What should I do to become great? I don't want to be a professional
dancer but I want to be able to be accepted at a good school for ballet.
Please HELP! :)
Answer: Hi Shamir, a good dancer is one who makes themself a good dancer and works hard towards their goal. If you want it badly enough, yes you'll get there. It will take hard work and a lot of effort but if you work hard enough, you should succeed and get to where you want to get.
From: Rhie
Question: Do you have to get pointe shoes professionally fitted?
Answer: I always suggest that you get pointe shoes professionally fitted until you have found a pair that you are 100% comfortable with, note down what they are and stick with them, once you have that pair, you will no longer need to keep getting them fitted professionally, unless you are still growing and your feet are still developing as you will have size changes.
From: Lydia
Age: 14
Question: i'm just starting ballet and i was wondering how long it took you before you were on pointe work?
Answer: Before starting pointe work,your ankles need to be strong enough to support your body, i started ballet when i was just 3 years old and I wasn't supposed to be en pointe until i was 12 so that my ankles could support me, however, my teacher started me on pointe work when i was just 8years old. Everybody is different and as long as you work hard enough and do the right exercises to strengthen your ankles such as releves and lots of demipointe work, you should be en pointe within 3 years but its what your teacher reccommends that you should follow.
From: Lydia
Age: 14
Question: What should you wear to a ballet class?
Answer: For clothes to wear to your ballet class, you should check with your teacher. Your teacher may have a set standard of dancewear that she would like you to wear, if not though, i recommend something comfortable and something that you are free to move about in. The general wear for a ballet class would be to get a leotard, ballet tights and ballet shoes.You should also wear your hair in a bun.
From: J.C.
Age: 12
Question: I was just wondering if you had any tips to help me develope my leg higher in the front of me. My thighs always feel like they are going to burst when i turn out, so I have to keep my leg low. The higher I go, the more my foot turns in!!!!! My teacher keeps telling me to use my stomach muscles but it still doesn't work!? Do I need to be more flexible? Do I need to have more upper body strength?
Answer: First of all, don't panic that you can't get your leg as high as maybe some others can. All it takes is plenty of practice, yes you need to use your stomach muscles as best you can and the more you practice, the more flexible you will become. Try to push yourself to the point where it doesn't hurt but you can feel the stretch.
From: Stephanie
Age: 15
Question: i am 6ft 1 do you think if i try very hard i can become a beautiful and graceful dancer just like my friends?
Answer: Many dancers are very tall. And many of those dancers are beautiful dancers. Prima Ballerina Cynthia Gregory had absolutely no problem with ballet at all! I believe she was over 6ft on pointe. Don't worry about your height! Many ballet schools have certain height requirements but there will be one somewhere that doesn't and if you truly believe in yourself you can do it!
From: Taylor
Age: 12
Question: Im 12 and i started ballet when i was 3, do you know when i might be en pointe? I do plenty of releves and demi-pointe work.
Answer: Getting to the stage where you finally get your pointe shoes is a difficult one to answer as I am not your teacher. Every teacher has different guidance on when their student is ready for pointes. The best thing to do is speak to your dance teacher and see what they recommend. Some teachers don't recommend it until after certain ages, some will just see it as when you are ready for pointes you will get them!
From: Faith
Age: 12
Question: Does it hurt the first time on pointe even if you have the perfect fit of pointe shoes?
Answer: It is different for everyone. Personally, I have only ever had blisters/sores once and that was after a big performance but everyone has different feet and everyone's experience of pointe is different. You'll never know how it is for you until you get your own pointes but there are many products aimed at helping prevent sore feet!
From: Emily
Age: 16
Question: How many ballet classes a week do you think one should take in order to see effective results?
Answer: It depends how serious you are about it and how easily you can manage along with your other committments such as school etc. I have students in my own dance school that take up to 6 classes a week but i have others that only take one class a week. Its not always about how often you attend class, its the amount of effort you put into the classes you attend.
From: Juliana
Age: 23
Question: Can you break your ankle on a pointe shoe? If so, how?
Answer: Yes its actually very easy to break your ankle with pointe shoes. If your ankles are not strong enough to support your body weight, you shouldn't be en pointe yet, your ankles need to be strong enough to support your body while en pointe. Also, if your pointe shoes are not correctly fitted, its easy to go over on your ankle and this could cause breaks or ligament/tendon damage which is not a good thing for anyone to go through never mind a dancer! You need to make sure that your pointe shoes are correctly fitted and are secure and tight on your feet before you go en pointe! If you aren't sure whether you should be en pointe or not, speak to your dance teacher! Never teach yourself with pointes!
From: Jillian
Age: 16
Question: I feel so dumb in my ballet, pointe and jazz classes. There is this girl there that just barely turned 13 and shes like 100 times better than me. She scores higher than me in company auditions, she has an almost perfect turnout and a beautiful arch, and overall she's just better than me in every aspect. She also has a perfect body. I've always been told i could gain a good ten pounds but I just feel so heavy compared to other people. I've been dancing since I was 4, shouldn't I be good? I'm just very discouraged. I really want to be a professional ballet dancer but how am I ever going to get anywhere with people that are always going to be better than me. I think I suck, but I don't want to quit, because dance is my life. Please help.
Answer: Sweetie, you have to remember, never compare yourself to others. I know it is hard to see someone in the class that you think is better than you are but remember, you can only do your best! I know it is very discouraging but the truth is, you are most likely a much better dancer than you give yourself credit for! You will get somewhere professionaly if you truly believe you can do it! Don't let other people get in the way of your own dreams! Don't think about the other people in your classes, think about yourself! Don't quit! You can do it, you just have to have more belief in yourself!
Name: April
Age: 13
Question: Hi could you tell me where about do i sew the ribbon onto my pointe shoes? Could you describe or show a demonstration picture?
Answer: Pointe shoe ribbons: I use this guide here for sewing ribbons on