Dancing has a reputation among some men for being something that is very easy. Sometimes, they even like to say that it isn’t a sport at all, which I heartily object to. I like arguing with people who have this viewpoint, as I can always seem to convince them that they are wrong and they go away from our conversation being much more educated on the technicalities of dance. It’s a big responsibility, and it’s one I’ve bestowed upon myself. However, it’s definitely worth it.
When I dance, I have to wear toe and shoe pads for pointe shoes, since ballet is so difficult that without them my feet wouldn’t be able to function. You’re up on your toes all day, and it hurts. You get blisters. You get cuts. Anybody who tells you that it isn’t a sport that you have to train for is either lying, or genuinely ignorant.
But the thing is, I’m not even competing at a very high level. I can’t imagine what it must be like for the people who dance as a career, or who dance competitively at an international, elite level. I’m already a regular customer at the best foot specialist clinic operating in Cheltenham. I like them because they’re affordable and they have a great reputation, but I’m there so often that even the receptionists who work part-time all know me. I guess I’m just prone to injury.
When I was younger, I had to wear orthotics and arch supports as a way to correct my flat feet. These were sort of like inserts for my shoes, similar to the toe and shoe pads I wear in my pointe shoes right now. But while the pointe inserts are to prevent problems from arising in the first place, the inserts I wore when I was younger were to fix the problems that were already there. And they did their job! Dancing is my passion.