An air of change.

Four years ago I walked into the Classical Ballet Centre for the first time. I sat on the bench inside the studio and watched a class. The teacher, Ms. Shields, was lecturing on softening the arms so they didn't look like wet laundry being thrown around. I remember being extremely intimidated by her fiery personality and graceful air. It was obvious she had been a ballet dancer, and a fantastic one at that. I knew that I was nowhere near the level of the students in the class, who were a few years younger then me, and that my training before hand had very serious gaps.

After the class, I put on my ballet clothes and she tested my flexibility, range of motion in the hip, and had me do a few jumps. I was sweating bullets because I knew, that she knew, what she was talking about.

Ms. Shields's wit and charm, her warmth, kindness, patience, and sense of humor has helped me though every challenge and obstacle.

This Friday my wonderful ballet teacher Ms. Shields, will be retiring from artistic director of Classical Ballet Centre. I will miss her greatly, but am so excited for her opportunity to do all the things she has talked about doing One Day. That day has come, but I am so grateful for all the years she has spent reminding people to turn out and to pointe their toes. She has changed my life and the lives of countless other students. We will always be indebted to her.

I can think of no better way to say goodbye and to celebrate her new path, than over delicious food and with great company. This Friday at 7:30 we will have a Potluck for her at CBC. To RSVP, please fill out the form here! Thanks, and can't wait to see you there! :)

Ms. Shields at 15. Isn't she fantastic? 

Pointe Shoes...The never-ending journey

I have been on pointe for about 6 years now. Pointe work takes years of training and even more discipline then dancing in flat soft shoes. You are putting your entire weight onto the tip of a hard satin shoe that you turn on, rise, lower and roll though using your feet, ankles, legs, back, and abdominals to control. Ballerinas are famous for dancing on the tips of their toes so it is important as a dancer to have well-fitting pointe shoes. Ideally they should fit like a glove, offer support, and allow you to manipulate the feet against the floor and into the air. Finding the perfect balance of shoe takes years of work. Your feet change; they grow stronger and form calluses in places where your feet rub up against the shoes. Blisters, bunions, corns, ingrown toenails (that cut into the skin and cause bleeding), cracked and bruised toenails, are all normal for any ballerina. How your feet are shaped,  how long your toes are, how high your arch is, all affects how your feet look and fit in the shoes.

There are about 10 different brands of pointe shoes available in the U.S. They are made in France, Russia, London, and New York City. They take hours to complete and must be made by well-trained cobblers. Here is a short video of pointe shoe production.

It takes constant experimentation for a dancer to prepare her shoes for use.
Yesterday's experiment: three-quartering the shank; a popular way to accentuate the arch and make the shoes last longer.
First I ripped away the shank from the canvas.

 I then marked the shoe and took a small handheld saw to the shank. Below is the first cut I made which was too high for my foot.

After an afternoon of cutting bit by bit away I finally managed the perfect amount!

Can't wait to try these out today in class!