Oh yeah, thanks… For those of us who dare to dance. This is a good idea.
And yeah. I’m a dancer. Been for quite some time. Why? Well, I just found out that’s it easier to live life to the music. Whatever you do to a rollicking soundtrack score… that really gets into your blood and makes you move, really, really groove… Uh, sorry for that last line that. Sounded better in my head. “Move. Really, really groove.” Wow, that was corny. Bob Saget corny. Cornier than Nebraska’s cornfield.

And a ballerina’s feet… Oh, heaven save us! I see ladies in class bear the real war wounds of a professional. Crooked hammer toes, slight blisters, athlete’s foot–even blooming under the nails like a lush garden. As we all know, folks–ballet is never merely a hobby. Especially if you want to be particularly good at it.

It’s amazing–all these tips are just one nail file and pumice stone short of an official pedicure. But pedicures are off limits if you ever think of wearing Pointe shoes… ever.

The demands to reach excellence in ballet are infinite, aren’t they? Up with the sun, strenuous workout from the dawn ’til the dusk, pushing every part of the body to do the impossible. then after, the impossible is reached, it must be continuously worked on, every moment of every day.

Because it’s not like any simple talent, it’s physical ability. The moment you stop working on it, it all goes away.

Yes, those ladies are not merely professionals. They are soldiers. Their lives of one are endless access.

There are women all over the ballet world who do this. Who must. Many talk of “perfect feet.” The ideal feet for ballet, to truly possess feet for professional ballet– for the ladies in this field, are notoriously deformed—calluses, blisters, boils, warts, damaged nails, athlete’s foot, bunions, and on and on and on.

And until those feet are good and strong enough, the Pointe shoe must remain just out of reach. An ideal peak goal to be achieved. Like a big juicy carrot a few inches in front of a donkey’s face.

It’s a rite of passage. Not just to take a big milestone in her life in ballet, but new shoes. Special shoes. Powerful shoes. Every woman love shoes so. And ballerinas dream of the day they get to do those toe shoes.

Thanks all over a hundred thousand times for giving us these. The practice of dancing is so brutal and merciless on one’s feet–especially if you ever dare to try ballet. Most especially if you dare to do the dreaded Pointe. If there’s any way possible you can pamper and tend to your feet, it’s a definite must.

Hey, I’ll try a few of these right now. It’s been a long day. I’ve been working out since… well, 1999. Come on, how can anyone dance without their feet for Christ Sake?

–Sincerest Gratitude From A Ballet Dancer On His Feet Himself, Dane Youssef

Oh yeah, thanks… For those of us who dare to dance. This is a good idea.
And yeah. I’m a dancer. Been for quite some time. Why? Well, I just found out that’s it easier to live life to the music. Whatever you do to a rollicking soundtrack score… that really gets into your blood and makes you move, really, really groove… Uh, sorry for that last line that. Sounded better in my head. “Move. Really, really groove.” Wow, that was corny. Bob Saget corny. Cornier than Nebraska’s cornfield.

And a ballerina’s feet… Oh, heaven save us! I see ladies in class bear the real war wounds of a professional. Crooked hammer toes, slight blisters, athlete’s foot–even blooming under the nails like a lush garden. As we all know, folks–ballet is never merely a hobby. Especially if you want to be particularly good at it.

It’s amazing–all these tips are just one nail file and pumice stone short of an official pedicure. But pedicures are off limits if you ever think of wearing Pointe shoes… ever.

To all of those out of there, those elite goddesses in the field of ballet… who give themselves wholly to the craft. All for ballet…

Ladies, I have to bow my head and kneel in respect to you all, whoever you may be.

The demands to reach excellence in ballet are infinite, aren’t they? Up with the sun, strenuous workout from the dawn ’til the dusk, pushing every part of the body to do the impossible. then after, the impossible is reached, it must be continuously worked on, every moment of every day.

Because it’s not like any simple talent, it’s physical ability. The moment you stop working on it, it all goes away.

Yes, those ladies are not merely professionals. They are soldiers. Their lives of one are endless access.

There are women all over the ballet world who do this. Who must. Many talk of “perfect feet.” The ideal feet for ballet, to truly possess feet for professional ballet– for the ladies in this field, are notoriously deformed—calluses, blisters, boils, warts, damaged nails, athlete’s foot, bunions, and on and on and on.

And until those feet are good and strong enough, the Pointe shoe must remain just out of reach. An ideal peak goal to be achieved. Like a big juicy carrot a few inches in front of a donkey’s face.

It’s a rite of passage. Not just to take a big milestone in her life in ballet, but new shoes. Special shoes. Powerful shoes. Every woman love shoes so. And ballerinas dream of the day they get to do those toe shoes.

Thanks all over a hundred thousand times for giving us these. The practice of dancing is so brutal and merciless on one’s feet–especially if you ever dare to try ballet. Most especially if you dare to do the dreaded Pointe. If there’s any way possible you can pamper and tend to your feet, it’s a definite must.

Hey, I’ll try a few of these right now. It’s been a long day. I’ve been working out since… well, 1999. Come on, how can anyone dance without their feet for Christ Sake?

–Sincerest Gratitude From A Ballet Dancer On His Feet Himself, Dane Youssef