How to Break In New Pointe Shoes

I just uploaded another requested YouTube video!  Several people have asked me for tips on how to break in their new pointe shoes, so I made a video to help you out.  Click the link below to watch!

I hope you've had a great weekend!

Love,
Clarissa May



Find me on Social Media:
Youtube: Live On Pointe & Clarissa May
Instagram: @clarissamay
Facebook: Live On Pointe
Twitter: @clarissamay09

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FAQ: How Have I Improved so fast?

A lot of people have been asking me how I have improved so fast, having only danced 1 1/2 years.  This is actually a very interesting question.  Many people have said it seems impossible to have improved as quickly as I have, and I absolutely agree!  

I think there are several factors that helped me pick everything back up as quickly as I have.  First of all, I had a solid foundation when I was young.  I was very young, but it still helped to have the foundation of ballet in my muscle memory when I was coming back.  During the years that I wasn’t dancing, I still kept the artistic part of my brain alive, through other forms of art.  I started playing piano, and had time to draw, sing, sculpt, and write two novels.  Keeping the artistic side of my brain active was a huge part of being able to come back to ballet so quickly.

The Riggs Institute has an interesting article on the young child’s ability to learn.  A quote from this article is applicable to my rapid improvement upon coming back to dance: 

"Once a child has learned an instrument, he or she can stop playing, then pick up the instrument 20 years later and do much better than an adult just starting out."  

This quote also applies to other skills that a child may learn, including dancing.  You can read the whole article here: http://www.riggsinst.org/brainpower.aspx

Picking up piano had a huge impact on my ability to hear the music, and adapt to unusual rhythms while dancing.  The National Institute of Health says:

“...musicians offer an excellent human model for studying the brain effects of acquiring specialized sensorimotor skills.  We argue that training of this neural network may produce cross-modal effects on other behavioral or cognitive operations that draw on this network. This may explain some of the sensorimotor and cognitive enhancements that have been associated with music training.”

This quote explains how learning piano in my years off may have enhanced my ability to re-learn ballet so quickly.  You can read the rest of the article here: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2996135/

It was very hard to come back to dance after a severe concussion, with no muscle left thanks to Anorexia. I had digested some of my heart and lung muscles, so those were the first things I had to build back, before I could even think about building a dancer’s body.  My teacher thought I was a hunchback when I first started dancing again, because my body had absorbed all my back muscles when I was Anorexic... I couldn’t even stand straight!

I still have days where I look in the mirror and can only see how far I have to go, not how far I have come.  Looking back on the past year and a half, it is truly a miracle how far I have come in such little time.  Just two and a half years ago, I was one meal away from being rushed to the hospital.  For four years, I dreamt about dancing almost every night, and always woke up crying.  I still have an overwhelming amount of work to do, but I am so grateful to have improved as quickly as I have, and so honored to be able to inspire people!

I hope you all are having a wonderful weekend!  Happy Spring!

Love,

Clarissa May

Find me on Social Media:
Youtube: Live On Pointe & Clarissa May
Instagram: @clarissamay
Facebook: Live On Pointe
Twitter: @clarissamay09

Click here to leave me a comment!

How to do a Ballet Bun

Hey everybody!  Happy Easter!  I hope you are all having a fabulous weekend!

Some of my followers on Instagram have been contacting me to ask for tips on how to make the perfect, whispy-free bun for performances.  So, I donated my one bun-free day of the week to make and post a video showing you how to make sure your bun is flat, tight, and slick.  Here are 7 most important tips I always follow when making my bun:

Tip #1: Start off with wet/moist hair.

Tip #2: Use a fine-toothed comb to make your ponytail.  This minimizes bumps.

Tip #3: Comb back bumps (using your fine-toothed comb) while your hair is still in a ponytail, before you pin it up into a bun.  That way, the bumps wind up hidden under your bun.

Tip #4: Divide your hair into two sections, and pin them up individually.  This creates a flatter bun. (I show this in more detail in my video)

Tip #5: Use extra hairspray to slick up whispies under your bun, for the illusion of a longer, slimmer neck.

Tip #6: Use your spare time to practice and perfect the art of the ballet bun!

Tip #7: Accessories can always fix up a lopsided bun!  If your bun is off to one side, you can pin a bow or flower on the other side to balance it.

Did you know that long earrings can help give the illusion of a longer neck?  I always wear dangly earrings to class.  Be sure to check that your studio allows long earrings before doing the same!

Watch the video, leave me feedback in the comments, and be sure to subscribe!

Love,

Clarissa May

Find me on Social Media:
Youtube: Live On Pointe & Clarissa May
Instagram: @clarissamay
Facebook: Live On Pointe
Twitter: @clarissamay09

Questions or suggestions?  Email liveonpointe@gmail.com!

Click here to leave me a comment!

Pointers for Pointe

Several people have been asking me for tips on how to prepare for pointe work, and how to strengthen your feet once you are en pointe.

When I first started dancing after my Anorexia and concussion, I was really far behind all the other girls my age.  All the other 13-year-olds were busy with pointe work and variations, and I didn't have my splits, and didn't even know all the names of the steps!  I was determined to catch up to my peers, so I stretched everyday, and did a ton of exercises to strengthen my weak feet.  In only 2 months, I was en pointe!  I still stretch and strengthen my feet every day, using the same exercises I did when I was first starting out.

Relevés are the most simple, yet most effective foot-strengthening exercise.  Whenever you have a moment, do some relevés.  As part of your daily stretching, do 32 relevés first on both feet, then 32 on the right and left feet separately.  If you still don't feel the burn in your calves, keep going until you do! It is amazing how much this will improve your demi pointe and pointe work!

My go-to strengthening tool is my heavy weight Theraband!  If you don't already have a Theraband, it is a great long-term investment in the strength of your feet.  It can be used to strengthen other parts of your body as well!  Therabands come in different resistant strengths, and can be purchased using one of the links below.

Medium Weight
Heavy Weight
Super Heavy Weight

Therabands are great for many different exercises.  The simplest is just pointing and flexing.  Make sure to extend through your ankle into full demi pointe, then press slowly through your toes, and use resistance when coming back to demi pointe, then to a flexed position.

To create mobility and strength in the ankle joint, draw the alphabet with the Theraband over the ball of your foot.  Be sure to move your ankle through its whole range of mobility, and make each letter slow and controlled.

Another simple but effective exercise to create mobility and strength in the ankle is simple ankle circles, with the Theraband over the ball of the foot.  Do 30 clock-wise, and 30 counter-clock-wise on each foot.

In your everyday classes, be sure to focus on working through your feet in every movement, especially the simple tendus and jetés in the beginning of class.  Teachers and directors are not looking for perfect banana feet… they are looking at the quality of your footwork, how high and lifted your demi pointe is, and the way you work through your pointe shoes.

If you only have time to add one exercise to your daily schedule, add some simple one-legged releves on each foot.  This was the main exercise I did when preparing for pointe work, and it will make a huge difference in the strength and shape of your feet (and how soon you get your pointe shoes!)

Here is an interesting article on the importance of relevés: http://balletpages.blogspot.com/2011/07/if-i-could-only-add-one-exercise-to.html?

If you are looking for more help with the strength of your feet, turnout, and core stability (all necessary to begin and/or excel at pointe work) this book is a great resource to help: Perfect Pointe Book

Here are a few helpful videos of strengthening exercises:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QY5FW9BPbBg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-J4945XQG7s

Also, you might consider investing in a foot stretcher.  I own both the Ballet Foot Stretch, and the Pro Arch, and they are great for gaining flexibility in the arch, ankle and metatarsal area.  However, you have to be extremely cautious when using a foot stretcher.  It is very easy to over-stretch your feet and ultimately injure yourself if you do not follow the accompanying directions. Always use foot stretchers with caution, while warmed up.

You can purchase the Ballet Foot Stretch HERE, and the Pro Arch HERE.

Thanks for reading, and good luck in your journey towards and through pointe work!

Love,

Clarissa May

Clarissa May

Find me on Social Media:
Youtube: Live On Pointe & Clarissa May
Instagram: @clarissamay
Facebook: Live On Pointe
Twitter: @clarissamay09

Click here to leave me a comment!

How to Improve Turnout for Ballet

Ever since I posted this photo on Instagram, people have been asking me for turnout tips!  To help you guys out, I decided to make a video of all the stretches and exercises I do for turnout.  Always remember to stretch when warm, and stretch everyday to see improvement.  I hope this helps… feel free to leave suggestions!

Love,

Clarissa May

Clarissa May

Find me on Social Media:
Youtube: Live On Pointe & Clarissa May
Instagram: @clarissamay
Facebook: Live On Pointe
Twitter: @clarissamay09