Ballet dancers feet take sustained abuse in footwear designed to offer the least level of protection.

No Shock Absorption

No Arch Support

No Foot-Comfort Features

Other sports athletes get to wear shoes that are protective and kind to their feet. Dancers are treated to the opposite reality, forced to wear tight-fitting torture chambers known as pointe shoes.

Popping painkillers is widespread. Some cover their feet in glue.

Those pink silk shoes hide a battery of injuries:

Black Nails

Purpling Flesh

Growths

Cracked Nails

Bunions

Black Spots

Numb Toes

Inflammation of Joints

Broken Toes

Scars

Hard Skin

Sprained Ankles

Ask which is the most painful ballet to dance and most will say “Swan Lake”