Sickling feet is a common problem for dancers, especially those training in ballet. It occurs when the dancer’s feet turn outwards, or “sickle” while they are in a relevé position.
This can be a major hindrance to the dancer’s progress, as it can lead to incorrect turnout and can even cause pain and injury if it is not corrected. Fortunately, there are several steps that ballet dancers can take to address this issue and stop their feet from sickling.
Strengthen the Feet:
To stop your feet from sickling in ballet, you must first strengthen them. This should be done gradually over time to prevent any injuries.
Start by stretching your feet before and after class; use pointed toe exercises such as flexing and pointing your toes; and practice relevés on both flat and demi-pointe with both legs separately. You can also use a foot stretcher or massage ball to help increase your range of motion.
Improve Posture:
Good posture is essential for proper execution of ballet steps. Make sure that you have good alignment from head to toe whenever you are dancing; keep your core engaged; focus on keeping your shoulders back; and ensure that your hips are square throughout each movement. All of these things will help ensure that you are able to maintain correct turnout while dancing.
Focus on Turnout:
Once you have strengthened your feet and improved your posture, you must then focus on improving your turnout. To do this, practice pliés in first position with both legs separately; keep the heel of the supporting leg grounded when doing relevés; practice turning out from the hips instead of just relying on the ankles; and focus on controlling each movement as much as possible.
Be Patient:
Finally, it is important to remember that progress takes time when it comes to stopping sickling feet in ballet. Be patient with yourself as you work towards achieving correct turnout; don’t rush through exercises or push yourself too hard too soon. With consistent practice over time, you should be able to stop sickling feet in no time!
Conclusion:
Sickling feet can be a major issue for dancers training in ballet, but it doesn’t have to be! By strengthening their feet, improving their posture, focusing on improving their turnout, and being patient with themselves during their progress – dancers can learn how to stop their feet from sickling once and for all!