Hi Lisa,
I am taking the time finally to thank you as well as to let you know that I have gotten all the material that we were waiting for in NYC. I am very busy right now but I am patiently waiting for a chance to look at it all and review what we talked about when you were here. I will be savoring it ;-)
Thank you again so much for putting all of this invaluable information out for dancers and teachers alike to learn and apply. It has guided my teaching tremendously as I am putting ballet students on pointe for the first time ever. I pride myself on safe teaching practices and your support, through your wonderful products, has proved to be a godsend. Nothing in my training as both a dancer and a teacher has prepared me for teaching pointe as well as your Perfect Pointe System. The Flexibility program and the Advanced Foot Control are great and so complementary to the PPS.
Thank you once more and I hope we meet again here in New York!
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Dear Lisa,
My ballet story has had a lots of ups a downs and I know better than most, the danger of being on pointe before you're ready.
I took ballet from age 2 through to 11 and it was my life until, unfortunately, a bullying teacher made my life miserable enough that I quit. I still did other types of dance but felt it was too late to go back to ballet. At 16 however, I realised that it was stupid to to allow someone else to ruin my passion, and with a deep breath went back to a local ballet class.
Unfortunately, this class was, to say the least, awful. The teacher put me straight onto pointe (saying I had enough strength from other dance to do it) and because I was desperate to be on pointe, I agreed. I was never taught how to break my shoes in and despite the other dancing, defiantly didn't have the right muscles for pointe. I was pushed to try
pirouettes and other dangerous moves before I could barely tendu and my foot cramped every time I rose.
I pushed myself so hard that sadly, but not surprisingly, a few months in I had badly damaged the muscles around my knees and had to have my toenail removed from my big toe due to my feet squashing into the side of my shoes.
I could not walk without pain and my mum was so angry that this had been allowed to happen that from then on ballet was a no go zone. I was devastated. She told me years later that she felt I should never have been on pointe, but having little dance knowledge, didn't argue with the teacher.
However, at the age of 22, after proper physio on my knees and growth of a new toenail (eww) I found a brilliant adult ballet studio which has allowed my to learn to ballet again right from scratch. I have never been so happy,
and although I am taking it slowly I have already found I have strength and a demi point range I never would have believed was possible. All thanks to the beautiful and careful training of my teachers.
I am hoping, like any ballet dancer, that pointe will still be possible and thanks to your brilliant information will now know when that time is right and will be able to protect myself from the injuries and heartache.
Being able to show my mother the book has put her mind at ease and she is also a big supporter of the information for parents. As someone who has been there and got the t-shirt I would like to say thank you so much for sharing
your expertise and trying to help others not to make the mistakes I did.
Thea
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Dear Lisa,
After reading the story about "PointeShoes" being played on YouTube in the Wall Street Journal & the mention of you, I curiously logged on & watched that piece & then started watching you on YouTube. I actually got goose pimples listening to you & seeing the way you worked with the dancers, and your apparent knowledge, sincerity, & enthusiasm touched me.
I'm right in the process of "re-educating" & re-strengthen the power & alignment in my feet after many years. I was a dancer before & I'm tantalized with the wealth of information you provide compared with the education I experienced.
The computer technology & response system you've developed is above par.
I look forward to delving into your book & video's very soon.
With beautiful music,
Jean Marie L
