Many of the traditional barre exercises are designed to build strength in the foot. The exercises that target foot strength include all battement tendus, battement dégagés (also known as jetés or glissés), frappés and relevés. Foot strength is essential for balances on relevé, pirouettes, jumps and pointe work.
Barre exercises similarly target flexibility of the foot. Dancers work their foot flexibility particularly in battement tendus, dégagés, pas de chevals and retirés. When dancers correctly pointe their feet, with the ankles fully stretched and the toes elongated, they build flexibility. Because foot flexibility is so essential in ballet, ballet teachers often include nontraditional exercises to build this asset.
As dancers advance in their training, they become susceptible to minor injuries and foot ailments. These injuries are most common in female dancers dancing on pointe. Pointe work can lead to bruised toenails, cracked toenails, blisters, callouses and corns. While many of these are inevitable, a dancer can lessen the chance of experiencing one of these painful conditions by wearing properly fitted pointe shoes.
Because of the demands placed on a ballet dancer's feet, dancers are prone to sprains, stress fractures, fractures, tendinitis and bunions. The second metatarsal is particularly susceptible to stress fracture in dancers, while the fifth metatarsal is most prone to fracture. To prevent major injury, dancers must pay attention to their training schedule to ensure they are getting adequate rest. By eating properly, dancers can also help ensure their bodies remain healthy. Proper training, especially when on pointe, is essential. If a dancer is placed on pointe at a young age without adequate strength and technique, her risk of major injury increases greatly.