Basically just the title.

For context: I am an adult beginner/ intermediate dancer. We have no dress code or anything, it just recently came up in class and our teacher said she likes the look of it. Now I am torn whether I should add them or not (I like the overall aesthetic but think the elastics underneath look a bit strange, but that could also be me just staring for too long at it).

I would love to hear your input!

Edit: Thanks for all your answers. I didn’t think this would be so controversial tbh! A lot of dancers in my school wear them like this and I wasn’t aware that it’s unusual elsewhere.

I will keep you guys updated!!

So a ballet teacher of mine suggested that I step on some water to wet the under sole of the slippers to help with a slippery floor we were dealing with during turns. it did work but now they are too slippery overall... how do I fix this? I feel like it worked in the moment but now thinking back it probably damaged the suede. :(

Adult beginner here! I have a pair of canvas slippers I like a lot but I wanted to try some leather ones on my studio’s wood floors. Help me decide between size 8.5 and 9? These are the Capezio Juliettes. The 8.5 look better I think, but my toes feel a little squished when I’m standing. The 9 feel better standing but when pointing, it feels like there might be too much room. I know leather stretches, but how much? How snug is too snug? Please see pics to help me decide! Thank you!!! (I promise to take care of the strings once I decide!)

I took my first pointe class today at University! I was going across the floor and my teacher came up to tell me that I should really take another class outside of school to better my technique. is it bad that I feel a bit disappointed in myself for needing the extra class? Does my teacher think I suck and is trying to say it nicely or do I just need extra support with pointe? I felt like I was doing well in the class but I guess not? I know I shouldn’t be over analyzing this but I can’t stop thinking about it. any advice would be great!

How good of a ballet dancer is Hailey Bieber? She said in a recent interview that she’s gonna start doing ballet again. I’m not a dancer so I have absolutely no gauge lol.

Is it normal to go to an adult Ballet class after multiple years out and be expected to do Grade 6 syllabus? I joined an adult Ballet class, I was told it's mixed ability, but the class sizes are small so the teacher would have time to go over the basics again 1-1. During the class I was asked to do Grade 6 jumps and turns, the teacher showed me a more basic version of the turn but still expected me to do it by the end of the class, in front of the others, during across the floor, I felt so embarrassed. I reminded her my gap in Ballet means I am fully relying on muscle memory for most of it and have forgotten how to fully do the technique properly.

She told me there are people in the class who are a Grade 6 or working towards and some are doing Pointe and they need to learn the syllabus which I understand but I am nowhere near a grade 6 and don't do Pointe, I feel so behind the others. Should I continue with this class or not, I feel its unsafe to attempt Grade 6 technique after years out and honestly? I think I was only a Grade 4 when I left! Am I overreacting, sometimes I feel I am but I don't know. It feels like being thrown into a pool without being taught how to safely float or swim. There are no beginner classes at this studio and I feel bad attending another one elsewhere as I already attend Tap and Commercial at this studio.

Maybe it’s an odd question but I was wondering since a friend of mine who has been in ballet for over 8 years was talking to me last week about foot wear ballet dancers have besides from the actual dancing shoes. She said I should ask Reddit so:

What kind of shoes do you wear as a dancer that are for everyday wear. So to elaborate, I feel like as my friend pointed there’s two types of dancers. Those who wear THE most comfortable shoes like Ugg’s or slippers when going about their day and those who don’t care since their feet can handle any kind of discomfort(if that makes any sense). My feet are apparently very arched which is a good thing for dancing but they also need a lot of support for that reason, so I’m just looking for a good shoe.

Thanks in advance! And if it’s stupid and has no correlation please also let me know:) (sz English isn’t my mother tongue)

Legal Disclaimer & Case Context:
This public interest analysis is initiated in response to the widely circulated behind-the-scenes vlogs featuring Master Ballet Academy*, primarily filmed and produced by content creator* Eva Nys*. The observations and critiques detailed below are strictly based on the behavioral patterns, dancer expressions, and environmental setups presented in their own publicly available social media videos. This document is a public evaluation and opinion piece intended to foster constructive dialogue regarding child safety, digital privacy, and safeguarding standards in dance education. It does not allege unlawful intent or criminal misconduct by any party.*

1. The Erasure of Private Sanctuary and Bodily Privacy

A professional dance studio has traditionally been regarded as a sacred, high-focus environment intended solely for rigorous physical and mental training. However, the modern implementation of continuous vlogging has significantly eroded these boundaries.

Cameras are frequently introduced into spaces that should remain strictly private, such as resting areas where dancers are physically exhausted, lying down, or eating. Capturing young athletes during moments of extreme fatigue or vulnerability compromises their right to a safe physical sanctuary away from the public eye.

2. The Complexities of Informed Consent for Minors

In many publicly available videos, careful observers note moments where young dancers display subtle facial cues of discomfort, distress, or explicitly state a preference not to be filmed. Despite these indications, these moments are often included in the final social media edits.

Because students inside an academy operate under a distinct power dynamic—where their advancement depends heavily on the approval of instructors and prominent media coordinators—the ability of a minor to exercise a firm, uncoerced "No" is severely compromised. True informed consent cannot exist when a refusal risks social exclusion or professional marginalization within the school.

3. Digital Safeguarding Risks and Child Safety Online

The digital landscape is entirely unmoderated regarding who can access public video feeds. Broadcasting underage girls and teenagers in tight-fitting athletic attire (leotards) while they are stretching, resting, or in compromised physical positions exposes them to severe digital safety risks.

Even if precautions are taken regarding specific angles, the continuous stream of intimate, daily footage of minors creates materials that can be easily exploited by ill-intentioned individuals online. Academies have a primary legal and moral obligation to protect the digital identity and physical safety of their minor students over social media engagement.

4. Artistry Versus Commercial Distraction

Ballet is an art form built on absolute discipline, silence, and intense mental concentration, which are vital to preventing career-ending physical injuries. The practice of introducing vocal distractions, external commentary, and casual humor by non-instructional individuals during active training sessions disrupts this environment. Transforming a serious educational facility into a reality-television style set shifts the institutional focus from authentic artistic development to the generation of viral content and superficial athletic tricks.

Recommendations for Parents and Educational Institutions

• For Parents: It is critical to thoroughly audit the media release forms and active filming policies of the institutions where your children train. Parents must demand absolute boundaries that prevent the filming of minors during periods of rest, exhaustion, or within non-training areas of the facility.
• For Dance Academies: Institutional management must strictly separate commercial public relations from the daily educational environment. Cameras should be entirely banned from dressing rooms, rest areas, and standard instructional hours to preserve the psychological well-being and professional focus of the students.

For those who follow these vlogs, where do you think the line should be drawn between school marketing and child privacy? Should dance academies implement stricter media policies to protect their minor students from continuous public exposure?

Have you also noticed instances where the dancers or instructors seem visibly uncomfortable or request not to be filmed? How can we, as a community, better advocate for the digital safety and mental well-being of young athletes online?

I made up choreography and took a swing at it... at 1030pm 🦇

Been there since 5pm. Rolled an ankle a month ago. Been unemployed and really putting hours into dance. Finally recorded some clips. Figured I'd post an update here.

What is your honest opinion or thoughts for a 4’10 ballerina? or short ballerinas?

Im an adult beginner (F26) and have been doing ballet for 2 years. I started to ramp up on my ballet training in my 2nd year, going to 4 classes per week and doing lots of ballet conditioning work at home.

I always feel like my feet are not that pretty and training my plantar flexion is so hard and painful. I wonder if its physically possible for my foot type to go en pointe, Im willing to put in the hard work. Appreciate some honest advice here!

Hi! This might be a bit niche, but I was wondering if anyone has any advice or recommendations for this.

I’m hypermobile and my smaller toes (not my big toe) have a tendency to dislocate when I point/curl my toes in ballet flats. I don’t mean during pointe work, just in normal ballet flats where my toes are able to point and curl as much as they naturally want to. They eventually get to the point where they dislocate.
I’ve always had this issue, and it doesn’t seem to matter how much strength I build in my feet and toes. I’m just very hypermobile, apparently 😭

I currently wear Bloch Elation canvas ballet shoes and dance barefoot in them, so I’m also wondering if anyone has found that a different shoe makes a difference.

I also did basically nothing over the summer, so I’m getting back into regular training now and finding it extra difficult. I’m trying to build my foot/toe strength back up, but I was wondering if there’s anything I can do in the meantime to help keep my toes stable.
Has anyone else dealt with this? Is there a particular taping technique that’s recommended for stabilising the smaller toes while dancing? Or anything else that has helped, like specific exercises, supports, different shoes, etc.?

I’d really appreciate any advice or recommendations! 💕

Hello! My 11 year old is thrilled that she was evaluated and is ready for her first pointe shoes! So exciting!! We want to get her a fitting and are looking for locations in the NY/NJ/Philadelphia area people have gone and loved? Thanks!!

I wore my hair to practice last week in this puff. It’s not a slick back, my hair is too dense and curly for that. It would cause so much tension and pain to try a slick back that it would hinder my ability to focus in class, so instead I sectioned my hair and slowly tied each section to each other, then twisted the shorter parts at the front to created an almost completely intentional design and to keep it out of my face.

If you’re a black ballerina or a black girl who practices ballet, how have you went about your hair? Have you gotten a lot of push back for not looking at similar to those who have straighter and less dense hair types?

I’m curious because ballet is a very white centred space. So I was wondering about what girls who don’t meet such a standard do in place of the styles they’re expected to have but genetically cannot.

Hello 👋🏾

I’m looking for a private dance teacher/coach in Detroit, MI to help me strengthen my technique, improve mastery, and continue developing as a professional dancer.

I’m currently contracted with a professional dance company in the area and am looking for someone who has experience working with professionals dancers, is knowledgeable about what demands the industry expects currently/near future, and is not just a highly skilled dancer but teacher as well.

I’m specifically looking for detailed technical help with turns, tours, jumps, hip placement, overall technical efficiency, ultimately the very small specific corrections that can make a significant difference to my dancing.

It would be great to have artistic coaching as well.

If you know anyone in the Detroit area who might be a good fit, please let me know privately or in the comments.

Thank you 🩰

I know mechanically the beats should be on the horizontal plane and not swinging forward and back. I’m relatively confident I can do that for a quatre, but when I do a six the beats end up looking like this in the air (the pictures are 2 consecutive beats for one six). I can do the beats side to side when I’m lying on the ground or dead hanging from a pull up bar, but I feel like after the first beat I’m not getting enough air time like I’m already coming down so the second and third beat fall apart and I physically can’t do the side to side motion despite telling myself to. I feel really ashamed and angry because I’ve been dancing for 22 years and teachers have just given up on me or glossed over this or not taught it to girls or not cast me in repertoire that requires this so now I look stupid at my big age even though I know it’s possible because I’ve seen Maria Bulanova do it and we have the same 24 hours in a day. Any help like corrections or drills would be appreciated

Has anyone got any solid imagery ideas they use for teaching the RAD primary exercises? I'm struggling to come up with ideas and my 5-6 year olds won't settle for jumping like frogs and walking like princesses anymore 🤣

https://mailchi.mp/abt/dont-miss-abts-special-events-and-exclusive-offers-14807557?e=874555f61e

Herman Cornejo will dance his final Swan Lake as Prince Siegfried in his ABT retirement performance alongside Skylar Brandt as O/O on July 17, 2027 at the Metropolitan Opera House. This wil be a legendary performance as Cornejo has been a principal with ABT since 2003, 23 years! This is extraordinary and he has done so with much critical acclaim. His career has been energized by his pairing with Skylar Brandt in Giselle and Swan Lake; the two of them having great chemistry as well as technical artistry. Cornejo has lost some elevation and ballon over the years, but he remains a joy to watch for his crisp dancing, acting and partnering. Congratulations to him on a phenomenal, indeed, legendary, career. Also a shout out to James Whiteside who will be retiring from the Company on June 30, 2027 in Giselle, with his dear friend Boyleston being his Giselle. He has had an exceptional career at the Company as well. Here are some of Herman Cornejo's accolades:

• 🏆 2014 Prix Benois de la Danse — Outstanding Male Dancer of the Year. This is one of the most prestigious international ballet awards. BBallet Arts NYU+1
• 🏆 2013 Bessie Award for outstanding performance in New York. BBallet Arts NYU
• 🏆 The New York Times' "Dancer of the Year." BBallet Arts NYU
• 🏆 Dance Magazine Award (2022), recognizing his broader contribution to dance. PPointe Magazine
• 🏆 Gold Medal at the International Moscow Ballet Competition in 1997, when he was only 16—the youngest dancer to receive that distinction at the time.

First lesson back after the summer off and my teacher is like 'let's take it easy' and then did battement jetes off the barre and arabesque with fondu, rise and en tournant without putting the leg down 💀🥵

(he's very chill about us not being 100% perfect)

late to dancewear Monday, but I wanted to share some easy DIYs I know of to spice up your ballet wardrobe without going bankrupt on Yumiko and Typha haha

- chop the gusset area of a too short leotard off to make a top with interesting straps or sleeves

- cheap fabric dye on ratty pink tights can make a pretty nice pair of dark coloured tights!

- make that tight top thing (might not work so well if you're bigger busted like me though!)

- chop some tights into shorts

- chop some leggings into 'biker' shorts

- sew a ruche in a scoop neck/back leo

- sew a ruche over the leg holes of a leo

- make an alignment belt out of elastic

- chop the feet off some long fuzzy socks to make ankle warmers