Does pointe ballet really deform your feet?

Answer 1

If you start pointe work when you are not ready, not strong enough, it can be very damaging to your feet and bones. If you sstart when you are ready and strong enough, you can certainly get blisters, etc. I have been doing pointe for about 6 or 7 years now and the backs of my heels have reddish calluses. My pinky toes as well are like big red knobs, callused over. Neither my heel or pinky toes hurt to the touch, although sometime if I dance en pointe for a while at a time the will hurt, as will the rest of your toes, depending on what kind of pointe work you do. I've been told Ballet dancers will sometimes develop Arthritis too later in life if you are serious about ballet and do it often. After 6 or 6 years of pointe work, my feet are now a lot stronger than before but generally feel and look great (minus the knobby pinky toes and heels).