Learn the 3 most common tests ballet teachers use to assess if a student is ready for pointe work. This video demonstrates the Airplane Test, Pirouette/Topple Test, and Relevé Test, showing how to check strength, balance, alignment, and control before beginning pointe training. Perfect for dancers, parents, and teachers who want a safe, effective approach to starting pointe.
BALLET SCIENCE PODCAST: EPISODE 43 What happens to your feet after a long day of ballet… and can recovery shoes really help? I sit down with Kunal Moudgil, co-founder of Ance Recovery Sneakers, to break down the science behind recovery footwear, and what it means for dancers. We talk about: If you’ve ever come home…
BALLET SCIENCE PODCAST: EPISODE 23 Master pointe shoe fitter Josephine Lee (The Pointe Shop) joins Dr. Caroline Simpkins to demystify pointe shoe fitting… from shoe anatomy (box, shank, vamp, wings, platform) to how fit impacts technique, foot health, and injury risk. We cover common fitting mistakes, why pain is a red flag (not a rite…
BALLET SCIENCE PODCAST: EPISODE 53 Why do ballerinas destroy brand new pointe shoes before dancing in them? In this episode, we explore the fascinating science, biomechanics, and artistry behind breaking in pointe shoes. From bending the shank and crushing the box to darning, rosin, jet glue, and sewing ribbons with dental floss, professional ballet dancers…
In this special episode of the Ballet Science Podcast, host Caroline Simpkins shares her personal journey with papillary thyroid cancer, from the first subtle signs to diagnosis, surgery, and recovery. As a former ballerina turned researcher, Caroline opens up about how body awareness helped her detect something was wrong, what it was like to undergo…
BALLET SCIENCE PODCAST: EPISODE 22 Former ballet star Dr. Miko Fogarty joins the Ballet Science Podcast to share her journey from elite performer (“First Position,” YAGP, Birmingham Royal Ballet) to a foot & ankle surgery resident specializing in podiatric medicine. We cover injury prevention, why dead pointe shoes raise risk, alignment tips that protect feet,…
BALLET SCIENCE PODCAST: EPISODE 24 Former professional ballerina Lauren Ostrander McArdle, MS (Sports Psychology), joins the Ballet Science Podcast to unpack the mental side of dance… how to manage perfectionism, channel nerves, and build a reliable pre-performance routine. We delve into injury psychology, explore identity beyond ballet, and discuss practical sport psychology tools that dancers…
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