Throw Your Flip Flops Away

When you point your feet, which is a somewhat common occurrence in classical ballet (sarcasm), you don't want to grip your toes. Use them, yes, of course, but don't grip them like some arboreal creature attempting to cling to a branch, or a ninja hiding like a bat in the rafters. So, why train your toes to grip with every step you take outside the studio?

Now, those of you living in cold climates don't have to worry as much, but in summer, or here in Southern California where we are blessed with warm weather all year round, flip flops are a way of life.

And I hate that for dancers. It's not really good for civilians, either, but for dancers, flip flops are the tools of the Devil.

But, Jerry, they're comfortable, and easy to put on and-

Don't. Ever. Wear. Them. Throw. Them. Away. Or give them to a homeless person who doesn't have any shoes at all.

Flip flops force you to grip with your toes to keep them on. You don't even realize you're doing it. Don't believe me? Try and walk in them with your toes relaxed. Go ahead, I'll wait.

Fell off, didn't they?

You have to grip your toes to keep them on. That. Is. Bad. For. Dancers.

They also have pretty much no arch support, but that's another matter. The most important/dangerous part for dancers is the toe gripping thing.

When you grip your toes, you tense your foot, tighten your ankle, and put tension in your calf. You also shorten the foot. Gripping your toes prevents proper articulation of the foot. You can't go through your foot, and point it properly, if you grip your toes. You should point your heel, first then go through the foot, using the toes at the end, pardon the pun. This is especially important in pointe shoes. You must lengthen the toes so you can press the box of the pointe shoe over and complete your line.

If you want to roll up and down properly en pointe (thank you, Mr. B.), you must stretch the toes. If you want to jump, you must must stretch the toes. If you want to get full flexibility in your ankles, you must stretch the toes. If you want to have a beautiful, long line, you must stretch the toes.

All of that is ruined if you grip your toes, which flip flops force you to do, with every step.

But, what do I wear?

Anything that stays on your foot without you having to hold onto them. Ballet flats. Cute little pumps. Something with a strap around the heel. Uggs. Crocs. Chuck Taylors.

Anything but flip flops. You're a dancer, not only in class, so don't ruin what you've worked on by wearing bad footwear outside the studio. You spend far more time out of class than in it. If you spend that time doing things that are detrimental to your training, it'll only make things worse, not better.

See you in class.