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Ballet flats are back. Here’s what the research says about how they affect your feet

<p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/kristin-graham-1427672">Kristin Graham</a>, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-south-australia-1180">University of South Australia</a></em>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/helen-banwell-305575">Helen Banwell</a>, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-south-australia-1180">University of South Australia</a></em>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/saravana-kumar-181105">Saravana Kumar</a>, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-south-australia-1180">University of South Australia</a></em></p> <p>Ballet flat shoes – those thin-heeled lightweight slip-on shoes – are making a fashion <a href="https://www.vogue.com/slideshow/ballet-flats">comeback</a>. And it’s not hard to see why: they’re versatile, easy to wear, soft, flexible and often worn by celebrities.</p> <p>We have often been warned of the dangers of high-heeled shoes, so you might think ballet flats are problem-free.</p> <p>When you look at the research, however, a complicated picture emerges. There’s no definitive evidence to show ballet flats are generally harmful to foot health in the long-term. But ill-fitting ballet flats can be a problem.</p> <h2>Make sure it fits, especially in the toe box</h2> <p>An estimated <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30065787/">70%</a> of the population are wearing ill-fitting shoes. This mismatch between foot and shoe shape can increase foot pain, <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17507530/">reduce stability</a>, and can mean more blisters, corns and calluses. And habitual wearing of tight shoes has been <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0958259207000533">associated</a> with bone changes in the toes and feet over time.</p> <p>Many flats feature a shallow and narrow toe box (the part of the shoe where the toes go). A too-small toe box often doesn’t align with the shape of a foot and ends up squishing the toes. It can also <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0958259206000770">increase</a> pressure on top of and under the foot, and <a href="https://jfootankleres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1757-1146-6-28">restrict</a> the movement of the forefoot during walking.</p> <p>But a too-big toe box is also a problem. Too much foot movement within the shoe can cause pressure and friction on the skin, which can also lead to calluses, corns, blisters, and wounds.</p> <p>A poorly fitting toe box can also cause micro trauma to toenails which, ultimately, can change <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Anuva-Bansal/publication/347522694_Traumatic_Nail_Disorders/links/60d6135592851ca94487df7e/Traumatic-Nail-Disorders.pdf">their look and thickness</a>.</p> <p>So if you’re wearing flats, make sure you choose a shoe with the right sized toe box.</p> <h2>What about the heel?</h2> <p>Health professionals often recommend a small heel over a completely flat shoe. Very flat shoes can <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27498844/">place</a> <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0268003307002082">more</a> strain on the soft tissues that support the foot arch – specifically, the plantar fascia.</p> <p><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27498844/">Research</a> has shown moving from a completely flat shoe to a small, raised heel reduces the tension force on the plantar fascia during standing activities.</p> <p>On the other hand, other <a href="https://journals.lww.com/jpojournal/Fulltext/2009/01000/Effects_of_Shoe_Heel_Height_on_the_Roll_Over.7.aspx#:%7E:text=The%20roll%2Dover%20shapes%20seem,without%20a%20change%20in%20alignment.&amp;text=Photographs%20of%20the%20prosthetic%20feet,shapes%20of%20these%20feet%20superimposed">research</a> has shown most people will adapt their ankle and knee motion to accommodate shoes of different heel heights.</p> <h2>What about support?</h2> <p>Ballet flats tend to have very flexible, thin soles and heel counters (the part, coloured red in this picture, that hugs the heel and the back part of the foot).</p> <p>These thin and flexible structures mean flats are often accused of lacking support. But debate rages among foot and shoe experts about how important support is in the first place.</p> <p><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27729290/">Research</a> on barefoot-style shoes has shown walking in these types of shoes significantly reduces some loads on the knee compared to more stable supportive shoes.</p> <p>Minimalist shoes have also been found to <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30102872/">increase strength</a> in certain foot muscles used when we push off during walking, running or jumping.</p> <p>However, other research found stable supportive shoes can <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33428439/">improve knee pain</a> when walking more than flat flexible shoes.</p> <p>The thin soles in flats mean there is little cushioning under the foot. While more cushioning can improve comfort, and reduce stress and strain on your foot sole <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0021929011001758?casa_token=gecXFCMi0LcAAAAA:TazyTd8TRaAl_bG0jprifYIUIlWRDwEH6bVeymBYTWups2iDGMuUjLs2gaNqsiNGHVJhHC3J9AdB">skin</a>, there is no evidence it reduces loads across the lower leg.</p> <p>In fact, walking in cushioned shoes has been shown to <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20191571/">increase</a> the load on the knee compared to flat, flexible shoes.</p> <h2>So, what’s the verdict?</h2> <p>The verdict is mixed. Yes, there’s evidence poorly fitting shoes and a flat heel can be detrimental, with consequences seen in the <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0966636221000199">rearfoot</a> (around the ankle) and <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0966636218300687">knee</a>.</p> <p>But there’s also no hard evidence ballet flats cause long-term foot health problems.</p> <p>What matters is choosing a well-fitted shoe to suit your foot shape and needs.</p> <p>If you’re shopping for ballet flats, try to:</p> <ul> <li> <p>choose a pair with a toe box that does not cramp your toes and has a sole at least as wide as your foot</p> </li> <li> <p>choose flats that offer at least some structure and support</p> </li> <li> <p>choose a pair with a small heel rather being than completely flat.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/207806/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> </li> </ul> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/kristin-graham-1427672">Kristin Graham</a>, Lecturer in Podiatry, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-south-australia-1180">University of South Australia</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/helen-banwell-305575">Helen Banwell</a>, Lecturer in Podiatry, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-south-australia-1180">University of South Australia</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/saravana-kumar-181105">Saravana Kumar</a>, Professor in Allied Health and Health Services Research, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-south-australia-1180">University of South Australia</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock</em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/ballet-flats-are-back-heres-what-the-research-says-about-how-they-affect-your-feet-207806">original article</a>.</em></p>

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Purple Wiggle Lachy Gillespie's beautiful wedding

<p>The Purple Wiggle – AKA Lachy Gillespie – has married fiancee, Dana Stephensen.</p> <p>The beautiful ceremony included their twin daughters, Lottie and Lulu, as well as Stephensen’s son, Jasper.</p> <p>"Our little world - our colours," The Wiggles star captioned a photo of their big day on Instagram.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/ClLgLyzrl4S/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/ClLgLyzrl4S/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Lachy_Wiggle (@lachy_wiggle)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The couple sparked wedding rumours after sharing a series of professional photos on social media accounts which showed Dana in a full-length white dress and Gillespie in a suit, as they posed outdoors.</p> <p>"Always, always, always. Ever, ever, ever," the ballerina captioned the post.</p> <p>The comment section was flooded with well-wishes and congratulations for the newly weds. The wedding photos were taken by Bayleigh Vedelago.</p> <p>Gillespie and Stephensen welcomed twin daughters Lulu and Lottie in September 2020 and announced their engagement in April that year.</p> <p>Gillespie and Stephensen met when The Australian Ballet began recording a DVD with The Wiggles.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

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Ballet-dancing Olympic boxer cops fine just hours after leaving quarantine

<p>Australian Olympic medallist Harry Garside has been fined more than $5000 for flouting Victoria's COVID-19 restrictions. </p> <p>The 24-year-old boxer attended a party in Melbourne on Saturday night, only hours after leaving hotel quarantine. </p> <p>Harry completed his hotel quarantine period in Brisbane following his return from the Tokyo Olympics, and flew to Melbourne to attend the party only hours later. </p> <p>The boxer is among five people who have been slapped with fines after pictures of the illegal gathering in Mooroolbark were posted on social media. </p> <p>The images show Harry drinking with friends, as they posed with Garside's bronze medal. </p> <p><span>“All attendees will be interviewed and issued with a $5454 infringement notice for breaching Chief Health Officer directions,” a Victoria Police spokesperson said.</span></p> <p><span>Harry Garside, who is a plumber by trade, became the first Aussie to win a medal for boxing in 33 years at the Tokyo Olympic Games last month. </span></p> <p><span>He won fans over across the country after revealing that he had taken up ballet dancing in the lead-up to the Olympics to help with his footwork.</span></p> <p><span>Victoria remains in a strict lockdown with no end in sight, as COVID-19 cases continue to rise due to the deadly Delta variant. </span></p> <p><span>The state recorded 92 new locally acquired cases on Sunday, including more than 30 not yet linked to existing outbreaks.</span></p> <p><em>Image credit: Getty Images</em></p>

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Royal Ballet: How Duchess Camilla stays fit during lockdown

<p>The Duchess of Cornwall has taken up ballet with a group of “ancient friends” as a way to stay fit.</p> <p>During a conversation with Dame Darcey Bussell and Angela Rippon, Duchess Camilla revealed she had been taking ballet lessons for 18 months through Silver Swans tutorials aimed at the over-55s.</p> <p>The 72-year-old duchess said she decided to try the discipline after visiting a Silver Swans class in New Zealand in 2018.</p> <p>“At first I thought it was going to be very funny and I was going to laugh at everybody toppling over next door to me,” she said.</p> <p>“But we concentrate so hard that we don’t even know what our friend next door is doing.</p> <p>“You might groan a bit afterwards, huff, grunt and everything else. But you do feel so much better. It’s fun.”</p> <p>Since then, she has been attending classes with three “ancient friends”, she said. “The four of us clatter around and when we are in London, we do it once a week. It makes all the difference.”</p> <p>Camilla said while she might have “improved a tiny bit” after 18 months of training, she would not be “taking to the stage”.</p> <p>The duchess, who was recently appointed as the Vice-Patron of the Royal Academy of Dance, encouraged those aged over 55 to have a go at ballet during the coronavirus lockdown through the Silver Swans online classes.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">With the news that The Duchess of Cornwall is to become Vice Patron of the Royal Academy of Dance, Her Royal Highness undertook a video call with <a href="https://twitter.com/DarceyOfficial?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DarceyOfficial</a> and Angela Rippon to discuss the Silver Swans programme. 🩰<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/InternationalDanceDay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#InternationalDanceDay</a><a href="https://twitter.com/RADheadquarters?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RADheadquarters</a> <a href="https://t.co/urjDxgg9BZ">pic.twitter.com/urjDxgg9BZ</a></p> — Clarence House (@ClarenceHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClarenceHouse/status/1255399394867843073?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2020</a></blockquote> <p>In the video call with Bussell and Rippon, the duchess also shared an update on her husband Prince Charles, who recently recovered from coronavirus.</p> <p>“My husband is a workaholic, so he will work wherever he is. He’s sitting at his desk now working away,” she said.</p> <p>“We try and do something for all our charities most days to try and give them a bit of encouragement and just try to lend our support.”</p>

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“I screwed up”: Morning show host hit with backlash after mocking Prince George for taking ballet

<p>After mocking Prince George’s school curriculum,<span> </span><em>Good Morning America<span> </span></em>anchor Lara Spencer has issued an apology after nationwide backlash ensued.</p> <p>During a segment on the show, it was revealed that the eldest son of Prince William takes ballet classes, with his dad mentioning that “Prince George absolutely loves ballet.”</p> <p>To which Spencer responded: “I have news for you Prince William, we’ll see how long that lasts.”</p> <p>But the quip didn’t go down well, as shortly after she was forced to apologise for the incident on her Instagram due to significant criticism: “My sincere apologies for an insensitive comment I made in pop news yesterday. From ballet to anything one wants to explore in life, I say GO FOR IT. I fully believe we should all be free to pursue our passions. Go climb your mountain – and love every minute of it.”</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B1gzsy_D7-L/" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B1gzsy_D7-L/" target="_blank">My sincere apologies for an insensitive comment I made in pop news yesterday. From ballet to anything one wants to explore in life, I say GO FOR IT. I fully believe we should all be free to pursue our passions. Go climb your mountain-and love every minute of it.</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/lara.spencer/" target="_blank"> Lara Spencer</a> (@lara.spencer) on Aug 23, 2019 at 9:07am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>She also made a statement on air Monday morning: “I screwed up. I did,” she said. “It was stupid, and I am deeply sorry. I’ve spoken with several members of the dance community over the past few days.</p> <p>“For me the lesson is that words hurt, and it was not my intention, but it was insensitive and I thank you all for giving me the opportunity to apologise personally to you and for you guys coming in here to talk to me and to educate me, again, I’m really sorry.”</p> <p>Her response came shortly after members of the dance community rallied around the young prince and other male dancers with the hashtag #boysdancetoo.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B1gjmZTBCxW/" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B1gjmZTBCxW/" target="_blank">DEAR @lara.spencer of GOOD MORNING AMERICA. I have a message for you. Wake up. It’s 2019. Get with the program. Please share and repost this so a boy who needs to see this feels supported if he dances or wants to! #boysdancetoo #ballet #goodmorningamerica #traviswall #laraspencer #bully</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/traviswall/" target="_blank"> Travis Wall</a> (@traviswall) on Aug 23, 2019 at 6:49am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B1hWQ-lhxCU/" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B1hWQ-lhxCU/" target="_blank">Ballet promotes strength; it cultivates discipline and focus. Ballet provides us with a sense of community, an outlet for creativity, and an avenue for understanding others. Ballet creates a space and a world in which reductive gender stereotypes don’t belong. Ballet is as much masculine as it is feminine, and we’re tremendously proud of and inspired by all our male dancers. #boysdancetoo • Pictured are many of the men in our Company and NB2 currently rehearsing for our season opener Romeo and Juliet!</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/nashvilleballet/" target="_blank"> Nashville Ballet</a> (@nashvilleballet) on Aug 23, 2019 at 2:09pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>There were over 1000 people who took part, as they aimed to raise awareness about the profession.</p>

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How Princess Diana's height stopped her from pursuing one of her biggest dreams

<p>Princess Diana will always be remembered as the fashion icon of the '80s and '90s, and one of the traits that made her look so good in her bold, creative and flattering outfits were her enviously long legs.</p> <p>At nearly 178cm (5’10), the Princess of Wales was taller than most women and it is no doubt her height left a major impression on everyone she met. However, it did mean some of her most beloved passions were quashed.</p> <p><img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7828696/new-project-9.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/254954e0df994e54a23c6db3c9790fb8" /></p> <p>Her impressive stature meant her childhood desire to become a professional ballerina was short-lived because of how quickly and tall she grew. A majority of female ballerinas were much shorter than Princess Diana and aside from her long legs and torso – the royal would likely have never been allowed to continue on as a professional ballerina anyway.</p> <p>Before she married into the British royal family, Princess Di had come from an aristocratic family as the daughter of an earl. As a member of the Spencer family and one of the most prominent names in British nobility, a dance career was unfortunately deemed “improper” due to her name and upbringing.</p> <p>However, the princess was still able to have a “real” job that adhered to her own love of children by becoming a nanny and later on a kindergarten aide – her last job before she become a royal member.</p> <p>Her days of dancing resurfaced in her young adulthood when she hired a dance teacher to help her reconnect with her lifetime passion for dance.</p> <p>Her ballet teacher Anne Allan spoke about Princess Di’s love of dancing in <em>Diana: In Her Own Words</em> in 2017 to mark 20 years since the royal’s tragic death in 1997.</p> <p>“When I first met her you could see that there was a huge shyness. But over time as we went through our dance class I realised just how much dance meant to her,” Allan said.</p> <p>“She had dance in her soul. I realised the pure enjoyment that it gave her. She loved the freeness of being able to move and dance. She loved it. I could see it helped to alleviate her emotional life. That was hard for her at that time.”</p> <p> <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7828694/new-project-10.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/23a74f55d7ad4a66a9710c062b58a761" /></p> <p>While the Princess would never pursue a dancing career, she did find other ways to connect with her first love.</p> <p>She was a major supporter for the English National Ballet and often could be seen at appearances to watch and cheer on other young aspiring ballet dancers.</p> <p>The royal also famously danced with Hollywood heavyweight John Travolta at a White House event in 1985. The same year she lovingly surprised her husband at the time, Prince Charles, to a guest appearance at the Royal Opera House where she performed in a quick duet to <em>Uptown Girl</em> with dancer Wayne Sleep who described the experience as <a rel="noopener" href="http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2017/jul/14/thats-me-diana-dance-wayne-sleep" target="_blank">“surreal”</a> to <em>The Guardian</em> in 2017.</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7828693/new-project-11.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/d48ae400b47c494d850ba4065ede82d3" /></p> <p>“Diana loved ballet, but she also wanted to learn jazz, tap and contemporary. Sadly, I couldn't teach her, because I was away on tour so much. But she approached me again when she wanted to perform at the Royal Opera House – it was a private show for supporters and friends of the Royal Ballet. Charles was going to be in the audience and she wanted to surprise him; it was all top secret," Sleep remembered.</p> <p>“The audience gasped when Diana appeared, as if they'd all taken one huge breath. The routine had a bit of everything: jazz, ballet, even a kickline. At one point, I pirouetted and she pushed me down; then I carried her across the stage. I remember thinking, 'Don't drop the future Queen of England.'”</p> <p>It turns out Princess Diana has not been the only royal to love ballet. In 2018, it was revealed Prince George, 5, began taking ballet classes – just one more way the people's princess still holds weight in the lives of her descendants.</p>

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Allison Baden-Clay’s daughters make first public appearance to honour mum

<p>Allison Baden-Clay’s two eldest daughters have made their first public appearance to award a young ballerina a scholarship in their slain mother’s name.</p> <p>Hannah, 16, and Sarah, 14, accompanied by their grandparents, Geoff and Priscilla Dickie, and aunt Vanessa Fowler, presented the award to Brisbane dance student Taji Hennessy.</p> <p>Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said she hoped the $5000 scholarship would help Taji achieve her dream of becoming a professional ballerina.</p> <p>“Last year my government established the Allison Baden-Clay senior program scholarship which honours the memory of Allison and supports young dancers from Queensland Ballet Dance Academy to pursue their dance dreams,” she said.</p> <p>“I announced the scholarship in July, on Strive to be Kind day, the annual day held by the Allison Baden-Clay Foundation, to commemorate Allison and to raise awareness of domestic and family violence and the need for respectful relationships.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/qldballet?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@QldBallet</a> Academy student Taji is the inaugural recipient of the $5000 Allison Baden-Clay Senior Program Scholarship. <br /><br />This new scholarship pays tribute to Allison’s love of dance and highlights the importance of nurturing our young people and developing their full potential. <a href="https://t.co/bZEmvu71QK">pic.twitter.com/bZEmvu71QK</a></p> — AnnastaciaPalaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) <a href="https://twitter.com/AnnastaciaMP/status/972289490990460928?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 10, 2018</a></blockquote> <p>Allison was murdered by her husband Gerard in 2012. He is currently serving a life sentence.</p> <p>It is understood that Gerard has had no contact with his daughters for years.</p> <p>Allison’s sister, Vanessa, gave a heartfelt speech at the presentation honouring the legacy of Allison.</p> <p>“Today is an exciting day as we see my sister and her legacy live on,” she said.</p> <p>“She’s assisting a young dancer to pursue her dream and strive to be the best that she can be. It’s on occasions like this that my family reflect on Allison’s achievements and celebrate her successes. She was an amazing woman and one that was, and still is, an inspiration to many.</p> <p>“Allison was born to dance and excelled at it by the age of four. She had that spark, that bright smile, the soft arms and pointed feet and she filled the stage. Allison was the ever-feminine ballet dancer with spirited stage presence.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Allison Baden-Clay's beautiful daughters, Sarah and Hannah, looking happy and healthy at the Queensland Ballet Studios where a scholarship was given in their mother's name. <a href="https://twitter.com/couriermail?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@couriermail</a> <a href="https://t.co/2vd453MsiD">pic.twitter.com/2vd453MsiD</a></p> — Kate Kyriacou (@KateKyriacou) <a href="https://twitter.com/KateKyriacou/status/972286522975141888?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 10, 2018</a></blockquote> <p>Scholarship recipient Taji said she was honoured to be the first person awarded the scholarship.</p> <p>“It’s amazing, I’m so grateful,” she said. “It’s my passion.”</p> <p>The Allison Baden-Clay scholarship will be awarded to a young dancer each year until 2020.</p>

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Rare photos show a young Queen Elizabeth at the ballet

<p>Rare photos of a then-Princess Elizabeth at the ballet have surfaced – and they prove Her Majesty has always been the Queen she is today.</p> <p>In a documentary called Royal Journey, footage shows a young Princess Elizabeth and her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, enjoying a night out at the ballet during a royal tour of Canada and the United States in 1951.</p> <p>Princess Elizabeth is just 25 years old but cuts a regal figure in her yellow gown, a fur wrap and a glittering tiara. Prince Philip, who was 30 at the time, looks every bit the young gentleman in a tuxedo.</p> <p>The couple are given a standing ovation as they arrive to watch the performance at the Winnipeg Ballet Company in Canada, and the princess is gifted a bouquet of flowers from a young ballerina.</p> <p>Their appearance at the ballet was just five months before the royal couple’s life would change forever. After the death of Elizabeth’s father, King George VI, in February 1952 Princess Elizabeth became the ruling monarch at just 25 years old. And 65 years later, she still is.</p> <p>To see the photos scroll through the gallery above. </p>

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Spain’s National Ballet dances with Parkinson’s patients

<p>This year marks two centuries since Parkinson’s was first recognised as a health condition, and every year on April 11 – World Parkinson’s Day – the world unites to help raise awareness for this debilitating and heartbreaking disease<a href="/health/body/2017/03/is-it-possible-to-detect-parkinsons-sooner/" target="_blank"></a>.</p> <p>In Spain, a group of ballet dancers from the Ballet Nacional de España spent some quality time with a few special guest dancers at their studios in Madrid – Parkinson’s patients.</p> <p><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2F146153208766303%2Fvideos%2F1297008637014082%2F&amp;show_text=0&amp;width=560" width="560" height="315" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p> <p>“It was a real pleasure for us to dance with them in this special day,” the National Ballet wrote on Facebook. It just goes to show, disability doesn’t have to be a barrier to getting out there in the world and having some fun.</p>

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Find the ballet dancer in the sea of flamingos

<p>We’ve tested your <a href="/news/news/2016/09/can-you-solve-this-maths-problem/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">problem-solving</span></strong></a> and <a href="/news/news/2016/09/can-you-spot-the-dog-in-the-herd-of-cows/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">object-finding</span></strong></a> skills before, and each time you’ve blown us away with your keen and agile minds. But can you keep up the great work?</p> <p>In this head-scratching visual puzzle, a ballet dancer is hidden among a huge flock of similarly-coloured flamingos. Take a look for yourself and see if you can spot her.</p> <p><img width="500" height="500" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/28798/dance1_500x500.jpg" alt="Dance1" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p>Still stuck? Scroll down to reveal the answer…</p> <p><img width="500" height="500" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/28799/dance2_500x500.jpg" alt="Dance2" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p>Tell us in the comments below, how long did it take you to find her?</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/news/news/2016/09/can-you-spot-the-dog-in-the-herd-of-cows/"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Can you spot the dog in the herd of cows?</span></em></strong></a></p> <p><a href="/news/news/2016/09/is-this-cat-walking-up-or-down-the-stairs/"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Is this cat walking up or down the stairs?</span></em></strong></a></p> <p><a href="/news/news/2016/09/spot-the-owl-hiding-in-the-trees/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Spot the owl hiding in these trees</strong></em></span></a></p>

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Hilarious pictures capture cat’s “ballet” moves

<p>Ever wonder what your cat gets up to when you’re not around? Well, it could be this! One pet owner in Japan has gathered a huge online following after sharing the hilarious photos of their cat performing some incredible ballet moves.</p> <p>Take a look at the cute kitty’s enviable arabesques and pas de chat in the gallery above.</p> <p>Does your pet have a secret talent? Tell us about it in the comment section below.</p> <p><em>Source: @ccchisa76 / Twitter</em></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="/news/news/2016/05/rescue-wombat-sorts-out-laundry/">Rescue wombat “sorts out laundry”</a></span></em></strong></p> <p><a href="/news/news/2016/05/photos-of-the-tiny-tortoise-hatched-at-bristol-zoo/"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Photos capture the moment a tiny tortoise hatches</span></em></strong></a></p> <p><a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/05/gallery-of-very-important-cat-jobs/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>12 very important cat jobs</strong></em></span></a></p>

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Salvio’s Shoes to shut down after 135 years

<p>It’s always sad to see an Australian business close its doors, but we’re particularly sorry to see Salvio’s Shoes go. Online shopping and cheap imports are being held responsible for the closure of the 135-year-old business, which has seen four generations of the Salvio family learn the art of dance shoe making.</p> <p>Boasting customers like The Wiggles, Sigrid Thornton and the Australian Ballet, Salvio’s Shoes has been a fixture of the Australian arts community for decades and has come through countless hardships including war and recession.</p> <p>"This hasn't just happened in a few weeks, this has happened over the last five years. The whole family is gutted. We're not happy that it's happening," Philip, a fourth-generation shoe maker and wife of Salvio’s great-granddaughter told the <em><a href="http://www.smh.com.au/small-business/trends/curtains-for-salvios-as-shoe-store-crafts-a-finale-after-135-years-20160426-gofewp.html" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Sydney Morning Herald</span></strong></a></em>.</p> <p>Founded by Italian immigrant Enrique Salvio in 1881, the first factory and storefront opened in Melbourne before being moved to Sydney in the mid-1920s and Randwick in 1943.</p> <p>Philip says the increasing power of internet sales became too much for the business. "We used to be able cover our overheads with the wholesale side of it, but we're not even getting that anymore because the shops aren't buying because the bricks-and-mortar shops are closing,"</p> <p>"We've had families come in here for generations; grandmothers who have bought their daughters, and then their granddaughters. It's hard to lose that," he added.</p> <p>Salvio’s Shoes will close on June 30, and it seems they’ll be experiencing a sales boom until then. “One grandmother came in the other day for a little pair of tap shoes. When we told her we were closing she said 'Well, l'd better buy a bigger pair as well'."</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/news/news/2016/04/60-year-old-hip-hop-routine-video/"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">60-year-old’s hip hop routine will take your breath away</span></em></strong></a></p> <p><a href="/lifestyle/retirement-life/2016/04/dancing-grannies-stun-pedestrians-on-busy-street/"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">3 dancing grannies stun pedestrians on busy street</span></em></strong></a></p> <p><a href="/lifestyle/retirement-life/2016/04/85-year-old-navy-veteran-learns-to-tap-dance/"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">85-year-old Navy veteran learns to tap-dance</span></em></strong></a></p>

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Ballet helping people with Parkinson’s find a new lease on life

<p>Ballet is providing a surprising outlet for people with Parkinson’s, a degenerative disease that affects people’s motor skills. In classes run by English National Ballet in the UK, people with Parkinson’s get a chance to lose themselves in the music and even find themselves dancing in the freeing environment. As you can see from the video above, the Dance for Parkinson’s program incredibly gives people a respite from the pains of Parkinson’s.</p> <p><em>Source: Channel 4 News</em></p>

Caring

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Why ballet workouts are good for you (and easy for anyone to try)

<p>Ballet isn’t just for ballerinas anymore. Everyone from models to everyday women are taking on ballet as a workout.</p> <p>Ballet workouts involve micro-movements, which, while low impact, burn fat, build lean muscle and slim and “lengthen” limbs in less time than many other strength training options.</p> <p>Here are a few moves you can incorporate into your exercise routine to see for yourself. All you need is a barre, or lacking that, a tall, heavy chair. But don’t underestimate this seemingly gentle workout – you’ll feel the burn.</p> <p><strong>1. Parallel extension</strong></p> <p>With your back to the barre, stand with feet hip-length apart with knees bent, slightly. Reaching back, grab the barre and raise your right leg, parallel to the floor (or as high as you can manage) flexing foot inward toward yourself. For 30 seconds, raise and lower your leg by only a few cm at a time, then switch legs.</p> <p><strong>2. Plie</strong></p> <p>With one hand on your barre and one hand on your waist, spread feet into a sumo position (wider than shoulder length.) Turn your toes out and raise to tip toes, (if you can) bend your knees, and lower until legs are at a 90 degree angle. Lower and raise your body a few cm, lasting for 30 seconds.</p> <p><strong>3. Fold over</strong></p> <p>Face your barre with feet at hips. Bend your knees slightly and place arms bent on the barre. Walk yourself back, arms still on the barre, until your body is bent 90 degrees. Rest your head on your arms and raise you left leg straight back. Once in position, raise and lower leg a few cm or make tiny circles with your feet in the air. Continue for 30 seconds and switch legs.</p> <p><strong>4. Standing leg raise</strong></p> <p>Stand with your hip towards your barre, right hand and left hand both holding to the barre. Raise your opposite (left) leg back, diagonally (away from your body.) For 30 seconds, lower and raise leg a few cm or make circles in the air. Try reversing directions. Switch legs. </p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/health/wellbeing/2015/07/pilates-keeps-you-young/">5 ways pilates can keep you young</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/health/wellbeing/2015/06/burn-more-calories-by-walking/">5 ways to burn more calories by walking</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/health/wellbeing/2015/07/tricks-to-stop-overeating/">6 clever tricks to avoid overeating</a></strong></em></span></p>

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