The Importance of Shoes

     Shoes are everything in the world of ballet. They enable dancers to dance. When going to see a ballet production you will most likely see the ballerinas in pointe shoes and admire the beauty of it. But what you don't know is what they are comprised of and what it takes to make them "stage ready".

    Pointe shoes are definitely the most beautiful shoe, however they can also be quite painful. The pointe shoe is made up of five key parts: a shank, which is a piece of wood inserted in the sole of the shoe to provide arch support, a vamp which is the top front part of the shoe and helps keep your foot close to the shank, a toe box, which is the flat top part of the shoe which allows you to stand on your toes an, ribbons and elastic, which help support your ankle when dancing on pointe. If one of these parts isn't functioning properly it could cause severe injury to the dancer. Which is why it is important not only to prepare our shoes properly, but to know when your shoe is no longer supporting you, or "dead". 

     Shoes are not only important for women, but for men also. In the first video the male principal dancer of the Royal Opera House, Edward Watson, says that when he doesn't have the proper shoes on he feels as if he is dancing with someone else's legs.

     The first video also shows the Royal Opera Houses's female principal dancer, Mara Galeazzi, discussing how important her shoes are and how she prepares her shoes.

     Each dancer has a unique way of preparing their shoes and making them stage perfect. So in the second video it shows how several different members of the Australian Ballet prepare their shoes.

   

      Royal Opera House Video:

The Australian Ballet Video:

Enjoy :)

Blog 10: Essential Question

1. Essential Question

Once a topic is chosen, the student will develop a working essential question.  The purpose of the working essential question is to help the student build a strong foundation of research which will allow him or her to create an essential question that encourages depth and rigor in the chosen topic.  An essential question must:

• Provide a framework for studies (It calls for breadth and depth of research, Is not a yes/no question)
• Take a stance (It allows you to argue some point, Cannot be a recitation of facts or a list)
• Format (It is specific, The wording makes sense)

I reviewed the rule of three for writing an EQ.

2.  Review the following EQs and

• Tell us if each meets the rule of three.
• Tell why they do or don't.

a.  What is the most important factor in healthy weight loss?

This EQ does not meet the rule of three because it is not specific enough and it would cause the student to lack “breadth and depth” while doing research.

b.  What is most important to securing a conviction in a criminal investigation?

This EQ does meet the rule of three because it is specific enough to allow the student to focus on a certain aspect, takes a stance and is worded correctly.

c.  What is most important in creating a hairstyle that best satisfies a customer?

This EQ does not meet the rule of three because the format is off.

d.  How can an anesthesiologist best treat chronic pain?

This EQ does meet the the rule of three because it gives “breadth and depth”, takes a stance, and is formatted correctly.

3.  Based on your review of the rule of 3 and your experience with assessing four EQs, please write another draft EQ for your senior project.  The senior team will be meeting with students shortly for EQ revision and approval; you are expected to bring your research notebook to that meeting with your EQ draft written inside in pencil.

What is the best way for an aspiring professional dancer to train?

Blog 9: Lesson 1 Reflection

1. Positive Statement

What are you most proud of in your Lesson 1 Presentation and why?

I am proud that I was able to convey as much information as I did, especially without showing any images or video to give examples.

2. Questions to Consider

   a. What assessment would you give yourself on your Lesson 1 Presentation (self-assessment)?

I would give myself a P.

   b. Explain why you deserve that grade using evidence from the Lesson 1 component contract.

I deserve a P because I met time and covered all of the points for a P that were stated on the contract.

3. What worked for you in your Lesson 1?

Bringing a poster helped a lot, it had all the points that I was covering and it helped keep me on track and helped my audience better understand me.

4.  (What didn't work) If you had a time machine, what would you have done differently to improve your Lesson 1?

I would change my activity, I felt that I could’ve been more creative.