Xiaochen Chen's Interview
Q1: When do you think a student is ready for pointe shoes?
A1: At best, 13 years old.
Q2: Do you use pointe shoes in most of your dances? What are some exceptions? What are some main dances that you use pointe shoes for?
A2: Yes, I do use pointe shoes in the majority of my dance performances. I believe if you are dancing a professional ballet you are supposed to wear pointe shoes. Hardly anyone would dance in a famous ballet like the Nutcracker without pointe- it just doesn't make sense.
Q3: How do you think pointe shoes have changed dance?
A3: Pointe shoes have definitely changed dance in many ways. An important one is that is makes you a lot
more beautiful and elegant. Another is that it revolutionized the technique. As time went on, significant
dancers on pointe would be doing all these "impossible" techniques. Other dancers from competing schools
would take the challenge and try to beat them. The competition helped our moves and shoes evolve.
Q4: Do pointe shoes make your feet more developed?
A4: Well, in my opinion, I think that you should already have developed feet to go on pointe in the first place. If
not, you can many injuries.
Q5: What are some pros and cons about wearing pointe shoes?
A5: One of the pros are that it makes you legs look longer. It also makes you look a lot prettier. However,
dancing on pointe is really painful and it really hurts. After all, your whole entire body is balanced on the
tips of your toes! It will also deform you feet, and as you age, these problems will come and hit you.
Q6: What is your overall opinion on pointe shoes?
A6: Even though it hurts, and can deform our feet, people still use them because it makes your ankles more
strong, and they make you look a lot more graceful and beautiful.
A1: At best, 13 years old.
Q2: Do you use pointe shoes in most of your dances? What are some exceptions? What are some main dances that you use pointe shoes for?
A2: Yes, I do use pointe shoes in the majority of my dance performances. I believe if you are dancing a professional ballet you are supposed to wear pointe shoes. Hardly anyone would dance in a famous ballet like the Nutcracker without pointe- it just doesn't make sense.
Q3: How do you think pointe shoes have changed dance?
A3: Pointe shoes have definitely changed dance in many ways. An important one is that is makes you a lot
more beautiful and elegant. Another is that it revolutionized the technique. As time went on, significant
dancers on pointe would be doing all these "impossible" techniques. Other dancers from competing schools
would take the challenge and try to beat them. The competition helped our moves and shoes evolve.
Q4: Do pointe shoes make your feet more developed?
A4: Well, in my opinion, I think that you should already have developed feet to go on pointe in the first place. If
not, you can many injuries.
Q5: What are some pros and cons about wearing pointe shoes?
A5: One of the pros are that it makes you legs look longer. It also makes you look a lot prettier. However,
dancing on pointe is really painful and it really hurts. After all, your whole entire body is balanced on the
tips of your toes! It will also deform you feet, and as you age, these problems will come and hit you.
Q6: What is your overall opinion on pointe shoes?
A6: Even though it hurts, and can deform our feet, people still use them because it makes your ankles more
strong, and they make you look a lot more graceful and beautiful.