| Be in pointe shoes as much as you can. Once | | | | here's some tips to help you gain from using the |
| you've gone beyond beginning pointe work, | | | | ballet barre properly: |
| wearing the shoes for barre work is a good habit. | | | | * understand correct weight placement on your |
| The sole of the foot, and ankle, have to work so | | | | feet (or supporting foot) which is, evenly |
| much more with every tendu, degage, and rise | | | | distributed between the center of the heel, the |
| onto demi-pointe. The shoe resists, and the | | | | area at the little toe joint at the outside of the |
| muscles get a better workout. | | | | foot, and the area at the big toe joint at the ball |
| If the thickness of the sole makes your foot | | | | of the foot. |
| wobble because it does lie flat on the floor, use a | | | | * check frequently during barre work, by lifting |
| wood file, and shave the sole down lightly. You | | | | your hand off the barre, that your weight has not |
| can get the sole close to flush with the satin, so | | | | moved back onto the heel. |
| that your foot will be flatter on the floor. Straining | | | | * additionally, at frequent opportunities, see if you |
| the ankles from wobbling is distracting, during | | | | can lift the heel of the supporting foot, and place |
| ballet barre work. | | | | back down, indicating that you are not back on |
| Even wearing worn out pointe shoes is better | | | | your heel. |
| than wearing soft shoes. There is still more effort | | | | These two simple points show you how to use |
| needed, until the shoe is completely mushy. | | | | the ballet barre to improve your balance and |
| If you're still pre-pointe, or an adult ballet beginner, | | | | strengthen your ballet technique. |