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Thursday, January 25, 2018

A Dancer's Guide to Stronger Feet

Dancing doesn't only involve straight arms and legs, and good posture. A major part of dance is pointed toes. They key to any move in dance, looking professional and proper is pointing your toes. Now, when doing a style like hip hop or when a move is purposely made to have flexed feet, then it's okay. If flexed feet are intentional, it can add style and emotional to a move or routine. But, normally, dancers always are to point their toes. Someone who isn't a dancer wouldn't think that your feet must be strong and flexible; they do. A perfect point is one where the foot is in line with your leg, and you can feel and see all the muscles through your leg engaging along with your foot.


This exercise is a very simple but very effective foot strengthening exercise. It stretches as well as strengthens your foot, to get that perfect point. First, sit down on a flat, surface. Have your legs straight and extended out in front of you. Flex your feet up and high as you can (ATI 24). The goal is to get your heels as far off the ground as possible. Hold this for as long as you need. I normally do 5 seconds. Then, point your toes down to the ground. Pointing your toes and curling your toes are very different. To achieve this, "Try to get your toes to touch the ground and arch your foot as much as possible (ATI 24). Hold this for as long as you need. Again, I normally do this for 5 seconds. Next, flex your feet again. Go back and forth until you feel your feet are stretched and warmed up. This exercise is shown below.




Is strength in your feet essential to any other sports?
ATI, PT. Strengthening Exercises.

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