Ballet Boot Training Advice Please!!!

hckyplyr123 · 15th July 2008, 02:58

Hello there,
I just purchased a pair of ballet heels and I was wondering what advice is out there in regards to helping me get closer to being able to extend my legs out as well as helping me be able to eventually walk in them. They fit great, they are tight when I tie them so my feet do not slide down in them and they stay where I need them too. Please give me any advice out there that people have that might be able to help me. Thanks.

Dr. Shoe · 15th July 2008, 05:43

Practice.

balletboot2000 · 15th July 2008, 10:49

As Dr Shoe simply put it. it's down to practice.
When you stand up, have something like the back of a chair to hold onto, and simply practice standing up. When you are happy, try walking, with tiny steps. Don't try too much too soon, and remember to keep your toe nails cut short.

DR Who 3 · 15th July 2008, 15:38

I have found that @ night I'll put some weight on my toes ie. a pillow/ heavy blankets and use the weight to strech my feet in the pointe position for a while while i'm in bed before I turn in for the night. This has helped me in walking in my ballet boots. Also I use Leos' gel pads ( Pink ones) for toe padding also I put some thin eva rubber padding on top of my feet to pad the tops of my toes as well. I bought the gel pads @ our local dance store. When I started out I used the hallways in my house as they helped me when I needed to balance my self. Once you solve the toe padding issue then it's a matter of training your ankles/legs to take the strain and build strength in your legs to be able to walk in bboots. I have had my boots since Nov. last year and I try to walk in them 2 to 3 times a week for @ least 1 hr. @ a time. I have gotten to the point now where I walk quite well( not as well as Pata) but my legs get quite tired after my sessions after all I'm 62 years old but I hope this will improve. The more you can practice/walk in the boots the better you'll get. I'm glad to see more people giving these things a try.

P.S. I also fashioned a gusset( check my other posts for details) between the heel and sole of my boots to make the heels stronger. I have have read stories of people braking the heels off there boots and I didn't want this to happen to me especialy while I was walking in them.
The Best to you.

Dr Who 3

Dr. Shoe · 16th July 2008, 11:58

If you're walking in ballet boots properly you shouldn't be putting any weight on the heel, it is really only there to provide support when standing.

heelma · 16th July 2008, 20:40

I had one pair of ballet boots over 10 years ago now, and I never made it to walk in them well. I managed to move forward somehow though, particularly when holding onto something. However, I am pretty sure that that's when a bunion started to form on my foot. Is there any trick involved to avoid such an issue? I mean, clearly all your weight lays on your toes, so isn't that just like a "bunion waiting to happen"? This was just another case of "I want to try it."

DR Who 3 · 17th July 2008, 14:23

Perhaps you could ask Pata as she appears to have the most experience walking in ballets.

JimC · 18th July 2008, 11:56

dr_shoe: thats the reason I had to cut 1/2" off the heels of my devious knee boots that I can walk in. In order to put the toe down first I was having to angle my shin forward quite a bit. After cutting the heel I could even walk on a surface where the heel would dig into the dirt without too many issues :)

DR Who 3 · 18th July 2008, 14:09

I also cut a bit off the heel on my ballet boots at@ first but after I reworked the heel with the gusset I added the amt. back. I found @ first I had a real problem with my ankle/foot /shin conforming to the pointe position when walking that's when I started streching my foot in the pointe position as mentioned in another post. I don't have any problems now with that part of getting used to bboots. How ever after about 2 hrs of off and on walking/standing my upper legs get very tired and I have stop my session. I have found that I put aprox. 30% of my weight on my heels when walking/standing. I make sure my boots fight tight around the top and ball of my foot area this keeps my feet higher and less weight on my toes. This works very well for me I only wish I could find a way to do a video to explain what I'm doing. I'll keep working on it.
Dr. Who 3

devab · 19th July 2008, 08:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by DR Who 3

I have found that @ night I'll put some weight on my toes ie. a pillow/ heavy blankets and use the weight to strech my feet in the pointe position for a while while i'm in bed before I turn in for the night.

I happen to use the same technique! It's very convenient and comfortable; I find myself doing it almost every night. It's an easy way to lightly stetch out the entire leg and ankle. And if you place a pillow under your feet it will force your legs to stretch even more.