Are ballerina's feet deformed?

A question for any ballerinas or people who know anything about ballet. I was looking through a dance shop website today and found myself in the ballet section (i don't do ballet myself, but i like to look at the shoes) and all the model's feet seem to bend in a really funny way. I understand that as a dancer your limbs and feet will probably be a lot more flexible that someone who doesn't dance, but are ballerina's feet deformed in anyway from dancing on pointes?

Reply 1

Sephirona

18

No, they learn how to bend it like that.

Reply 2

_Mazza_

12

Ballerinas don't have feet they have talons my dear.

Reply 3

dh00001

16

do it long enough and i imagine it would develop into something nasty

Reply 4

username94219

0

20

Over the years my feet have become 'dancer's feet', ie toes which looked crushed, thanks to these babies. I also suffer with ingrowing toe nails too.

I have seen some gross toes within my net of dancing buddies over the years though, trust me.

EDIT: Here are some piccies that show a dancers feet, well the damage dancing on pointe can do!

Please note: these pictures aren't my feet.

Reply 5

crystaltips

DancinBallerina

Over the years my feet have become 'dancer's feet', ie toes which looked crushed, thanks to these babies. I also suffer with ingrowing toe nails too.

I have seen some gross toes within my net of dancing buddies over the years though, trust me.

EDIT: Here are some piccies that show a dancers feet, well the damage dancing on pointe can do!

Please note: these pictures aren't my feet.

ewwww! sadly this is true and it doesnt end there! i havent danced in a few years, but i still get sore feet (especially in the winter!) still the shoes were cute! :yep:

Reply 6

username94219

0

20

crystaltips

ewwww! sadly this is true and it doesnt end there! i havent danced in a few years, but i still get sore feet (especially in the winter!) still the shoes were cute! :yep:

Yea im dreading the winter - that is when my entire body just freezes and I can't do anything, well I can but through pain, ie my achilles tendon gets stiff (tore it a few years ago - took 6months to heal), my lower back, my ankles - all give me jip throughout the winter. :frown:

Regardless of all that, I still enjoy it though. :smile:

Reply 7

LEEK

the pointe shoes mould to your feet. if you don't do it properly, yes it can crush your toes.
i have been dancing on my toes for 2 years now and have normal feet.
plus, yes it's painful, but you get used to it.
professionals use new ballet shoes for every show so their feet dont have time to mould and than they get deformed. but at amateur level (like me= grade 7) you dont have freak feet.you have to maintan them though. you can damage your foot if you bend yor knees on a balence or dont cut your toe nails. also if you do it on an uneven surface you can break your ankle.
any other questions?
x

p.s, we dont wear tutus unless we're in a show.