Hi everyone, I just started intro ballet classes after leaving gymnastics...I practiced seriously from 4-12 and then sporadically afterwards (I'm 21 now), and I really loved it, but unfortunately I have major wrist problems and it's just become too high-impact for me, so my boyfriend, who's a dance major, suggested I try ballet to keep in shape. Actually I'm pretty OUT of shape at this point but hopefully that will change, lol.

I've noticed that during certain exercises, particularly when I put my leg up on the barre to stretch, the arch muscles in my foot cramp up something horrible. I've had problems with this even outside dance - if I happen to sit crosslegged on my feet the wrong way, they'll cramp right up. I have somewhat flat arches but they don't seem to be as bad as I thought they were, now that I look at them in a mirror. Is this an anatomical problem with my foot or is it something that can be remedied by exercise and stretching? And if so can anyone recommend me some stretches?

Thanks for any advice!

Welcome to CriticalDance BDG! I'm sure my colleagues will have some responses to your question.

As this is a question, I'm going to copy it to the "Students' Questions and Experiences" forum. See you there.

Hope you continue to post on CriticalDance.

<small>[ 02 July 2004, 10:09 AM: Message edited by: Stuart Sweeney ]</small>