Technical Tuesday Metatarsals

Technical Tuesday Metatarsals

The bones in your feet that you can see running along on the top of your foot are called the metatarsals. It is helpful to be able to visualize these bones, so check out this link: http://www.healthline.com/human-body-maps/metatarsal-bones

When the whole foot is in contact with the floor, sometimes dancers clench their feet, pulling the arch upward and gripping their toes. This can cause problems like tendonitis, since the foot needs relaxation time to function correctly and safely. I have blogged about this before:

http://balletwebb.blogspot.com/2014/04/fun-friday-and-feet.html

http://balletwebb.blogspot.com/2014/06/monday-melt.html

Here is another way to think about this: When the entire foot is in contact with the floor, picture the metatarsal bones. Now imagine them stretching away from each other, putting more space in between them. It is like having platypus feet! This should help the foot relax and melt into the floor.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets:

Secret #1jj:  

“Imagine a wide space between the metatarsal bones in the feet.”

                Link of the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tB6xdSB0VyQ&list=PLFEuShFvJzBySvIjspoqNiAonwxpL7U9I

Quote of the Day:

“The quieter you become, the more you can hear.”

-          Ram Dass

                Help expand the knowledge base!

 Leave a comment about any instructions, ideas, or images that worked best for you!