What are some good ankle strengthening exercises?

Question

I want to dance on point very badly and I have the technique I just need the ankle strength, and comments or suggestions are welcome. And how can you tell if you have the feet for point?

Answer 1

Use the back of a chair, an arm of a couch, a counter, or anything that can be used as a barre. Do eight eleves and eight releves in first, second, and on each foot with the other foot in coupe. Writing the alphabet in the air should also help, as should using a theraband (just flexing and pointing your foot with it). In order to do pointe you have to have a fairly good arch, but you should ask your teacher about this.  

Answer 2

releve releve releve a lot!

all pointe dancers have different shapes and sizes of feet. talk with your ballet instructor about this.

Answer 3

stand up and and do bunch of releve's and plie's consistently, like

releve, plie, releve, plie releve, plie, releve, plie. DO ALOT!

Answer 4

i agree with the alphabet idea, i did it when i was in pre-point (getting ankle strength for pointe) but also, you can get these at a physical therapist's office or any place that sells yoga gear.

Take an elastic band and while you are sitting on the floor with your legs out in front of you, wrap it around the ball of your foot with the 2 ends in your hands. Do a rep of 10-15 on each foot, and build it up each week. Same setting, but this time do a rep of 10-15 moving your foot out to the side (dont move your leg, just your ankle) on each foot. Just gradually build up reps and you will get there.

Another one is to stand in the middle of an open space (this helps with balance too) and starting from a standing position, raise up onto the balls of your feet and come back down. Do these until your calves hurt, or else the length of one song. These will help get the strength to get up on those pointe shoes!

hope this helped!

Answer 5

oo! oo! oo!!! write the alphabet in the air with both feet how ever many times it starts to kill you. good luck!!!