Her future is so bright!! #ballet #ballerina

[tajos]

With great respect for this beautiful dancer, I’m wondering if she should be assessed for Ehlers Danlos. It often shows as excessive hypermobility. Then she can be guided to dance for longevity if so.

[dominotruth]

My daughter dances at the Houston Ballet Academy, and they don’t give anyone the green light to go on pointe until at least age 12. They have doctors on staff from Methodist Hospital that evaluate the girls over and over. Starting to young can ruin growth plates and greatly increase the chances of injury. They don’t care how good someone appears to be or how much they want to do it, it’s health first.

[violetnunya]

I’m so glad that people are talking about her age and the fact that she’s already en pointe. It’s irresponsible to allow young girls who aren’t finished growing yet to be doing something that can damage their bodies and risk their future as professional dancers.

[ChantelStays]

She has a pretty severe hyperextension (of her knee) though... So I hope she is always being safe in her little body and find time to rest and protect her joints.
I also don't agree that children this young should be on pointe yet... Generally around 12 years old is good, the ligaments are far too weak, leaving the child susceptible not just to acute injuries but also chronic pain and lasting damage

If the feet go.. the whole spine goes.. if the spine goes.. the organs go.. etc.

Beyond that though, she has enviable technique.. so much grace and composure, and obviously really loves ballet.. so beautiful.

[equestrian.life.]

I'm telling you, this little girl would be accepted in any ballet company she wanted.
Bolshoi Ballet, Vaganova Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Paris Opera Ballet... you name it!
She's beyond incredible

[-Reagan]

My growth plates were ruined from pointe too early.
That’s the TL;DR I would never promote this to children and their parents

I suffered stress fractures and inflammation and every single step was like walking on daggers. I thought it would be noble to dance through the pain. I was stopped by my doctor. I was attending a school for the arts and I couldn’t even climb the stairs to my classes. It was Christmas time and I lost my part in the Nutcracker.

I couldn’t participate so I watched everyone else dance. I did it to stay fresh and absorb whatever I could, in hopes that I would be able to rejoin the class soon - for months while I took my other arts classes on the ground floor. I didn’t want to leave my other arts, either but, eventually I had to leave the school. There was no elevator as it was a very old, historic building and didn’t fully conform to accessibility. I was left in the library for hours as it was dangerous to climb three flights of stairs on crutches, when everyone was rushing up and down around me.


I was put into a cast, then braces on my legs and even years later had to wear silicone in my shoes to absorb the shock and I couldn’t even run, much less dance. As a result I could not return to doing gymnastics or tumbling (which had taken a backseat to dance but, I had done it since I was a year old - it was still emotionally painful to let go). Due to the casts I couldn’t swim, either. Or even ride my bike. I couldn’t ride horseback until the casts came off and I couldn’t use my heels at all while riding.

As I grew it became worse, until I reached my full height but, by then it was much too late to regain all I lost. You never know how someone will grow or develop, only how they are developing or have already grown. You cannot determine the impact before that happens.

I remember relating to Hans Christian Anderson’s The Little Mermaid, when she sacrificed to have legs and danced despite the pain of stepping on daggers with every single step. That’s how it felt for me. I wanted to keep dancing. My doctor and parents stopped me - they said that I might be sacrificing my ability to walk or dance at all in the future.
It’s not worth it for pointe. No matter how much you want it; keep training it’s worth the wait.

[pavti]

“Her future is so bright” … that is if going on pointe before her body is ready for it won’t permanently damage her feet. That would be a shame, because she really is a gorgeous and clearly talented young dancer.

She seems strong and well trained but these are not the only criteria for being able to dance on pointe safely. I really hope she is older than she looks or her feet are prematurely fully developed.

[xeditsbyelenax]

I really hope she’s 11 or older. Children’s bones are way to fragile to have pointe shoes under 11.

[SobrietyandSolace]

I’m slightly concerned by the degree of g hyperextension in the standing leg at times. I hope she doesn’t get injured, because she has beautiful lines

[allimkcoddab]

her feet, her turnout, her posture, her hair, the list goes on. CHEFS KISS

edit: omg guys thanks for the likes <3
edit 2: damn guys this is the most likes i've ever gotten thankssss :)

[sarahcollin]

Thank you.. Longevity over passion. From an ex ballet dancer.. & also agree over hypertextention.. watching her.. I'd like her to be on Demi pointe for a little longer....she has potential ❤

[itzginny]

I always get scared when I see young ballerinas on point, I really hope for her health

[pzh]

Please get those shoes off of her ASAP mom and dad!!! HER CAREER COULD END BEFORE IT BEGINS! SHE'S NINE FOR GOODNESS SAKES!!! Please get her hypermobility addressed asap as well. Her knees will be shot, her feet will be shot, and she'll be in college dreaming about what could have been if her body hadnt been irresponsibly pushed too hard to young. It's not up to her, she doesn't know any better, but adults do. She may take far too much damage too young. She clearly loves what she does and could be a real star, but not if you continue this. She'll be dancing in pain onstage instead of dancing full of joy before the entire thing ends prematurely. My heart goes out to this girl❤

[sandrawalker]

Why is she on points? I danced in the 60’s, from the age of 3, and wasn’t allowed to go on point until 11. She’s marvellous, but I feel it’s so wrong if she’s not yet 11.

[missingallmymarbles]

Amazing job, I just REALLY hope she’s at least five years older than she looks…I’ve been dancing for much of my life but even with the dubious school I was in twelve was the absolute youngest that they would ever allow any of us on point.

[Shelleyc]

Her legs and feet are works of art. She's so delicate and yet you know tough because that training is brutal.

[lauravali]

Che meravigliosa ballerina sei...ti auguro una carriera strepitosa..❤

[Lifebegivinglemons]

shes so graceful and delicate with her movements, shes adorable, hope she continues to follow her passion :3

[virginiaperl]

She does every movement with grace and elegance! Thank for sharing young lady!! ❤️❤️

[dncingquen]

she is literally amazing and so beautiful, the turnout and everything. but if she’s not 11 or older this can be so so SO dangerous to the dancers feet and growth. children’s bones are so fragile and they haven’t even gotten close to finishing growing. please be careful