The Dancer Essays

01.19.2023

Breaking in your pointe shoes is tedious work. First of all, you have to make sure they fit you properly. And I mean PROPERLY. If they are too slim, or a tad too tight, you could risk losing a toenail or two… not that that wouldn’t possibly happen regardless. Once you find the right size, you then must sew the silk ribbons on yourself to fit your foot most comfortably. Of course it has to be you sewing. It can’t be your mom, or your dance teacher. It has to be you. This is your pain, your gain, and your shoes. If you don’t know how to sew, learn quick. Burning the ends of the ribbon ensures that no fraying will occur on the ends. No fraying = beautiful shoes.

Now that you’ve put the shoes together, time to beat the shit out of them. You don’t think I’m serious, but I am. You must bang the box of the shoe (the toe bit) on the floor as hard as you can, and basically split each shoe in half. The box of the pointe shoe is pure wood. The softer it is, the less your toes bleed. Pretty, I know. The more flexible the shoe, the easier it is to stay upright. Some dancers try and curb the pain of the wooden block with some lambskin toe slippers, but others find it doesn’t make a difference. Either way, most dancers will end up with blisters, bleeding, bunions, and lost toenails. Told you, but that’s showbiz baby.

And did I mention that ballerinas have to be slim? I mean, slim. No chest, no butt, no thighs. Stiff and slim as a board. They say it’s easier to dance on your toes if there is less fat on your body. Sure, that’s the reason. But anyway… That eliminates almost 92% of the pointe class from becoming professional dancers. People always wonder why ballerinas have eating disorders. Well, there’s your answer. We were always told to lose weight, even if we had nothing to lose at all. Breaking shoes and breaking spirits.

Did I say dance was kind? No. But it’s all we know.

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This is just the beginning of a collection of essays I will be working on throughout 2023 about the trials and tribulations young dancers face and can relate to in an early entertainment career.