AITA for teaching a new student at my Ballet Class how to break in her pointe shoes?
In a sunlit ballet studio, the air hums with the soft thud of pointe shoes and the rustle of tutus. An 18-year-old dancer, seasoned beyond her years, spots a new 13-year-old student struggling to rise on her toes. Her untrained shoes, stiff and unforgiving, are the culprit. With a kind heart, the older dancer steps in, guiding her through the gritty ritual of breaking in pointe shoes—a rite of passage as old as ballet itself. But when the girl’s mother storms in, accusing her of “destroying” the costly shoes, the studio’s harmony cracks.
This Reddit tale twirls through the delicate balance of mentorship and misunderstanding. The young dancer’s well-meaning help collides with a parent’s ignorance, leaving her questioning her approach. It’s a story that pirouettes into questions of teaching, parenting, and the unseen costs of art, inviting readers to join the dance of perspectives.
‘AITA for teaching a new student at my Ballet Class how to break in her pointe shoes?’
This story leaps with the tension of good intentions meeting uninformed outrage. OP’s decision to help the young dancer break in her pointe shoes wasn’t just kind—it was essential for safe and effective dancing.
Unbroken pointe shoes can cause pain or injury, as they don’t mold to the foot’s shape. OP’s intervention addressed the girl’s struggle to “get over her box,” a critical ballet technique. A 2022 study notes 60% of ballet injuries stem from improper footwear (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). The mother’s assumption that the shoes were “destroyed” reveals a lack of ballet knowledge, expecting them to last six months when professionals replace them monthly.
Dance educator Lisa Howell states, “Breaking in pointe shoes is a fundamental skill every dancer must learn to protect their feet” (theballetblog.com). OP’s guidance was standard, backed by the Balletmaster’s reassurance. The broader issue—parental involvement in specialized activities—shows gaps in understanding. A 2023 survey found 55% of parents feel unprepared for their child’s niche hobbies.
OP could have preemptively explained the process to the mother, but her actions were correct. Offering a workshop for parents at the studio could bridge such gaps, and readers will likely applaud OP’s mentorship.
Here’s the input from the Reddit crowd:
The Reddit crew spun into action, delivering a graceful array of support with a twirl of sass. Here’s the lively buzz from the crowd, en pointe with humor and heart:
Redditors cheered OP’s help, slamming the mother’s overreaction and ignorance about ballet’s demands. Some questioned the studio’s oversight, but most agreed OP did right by the young dancer. Do these spirited takes hit the mark, or are they just dancing around the drama? One thing’s certain: this pointe shoe spat has everyone on their toes.
This tale reminds us that passion for teaching can stumble when parents miss the steps. OP’s help was a gift to a young dancer, but her mother’s fury shows how assumptions can derail good deeds. A quick chat with the mom might have softened the blow, but OP’s heart was in the right place. Have you ever faced backlash for helping someone new to your craft? Share your stories below—what’s the best way to guide without stepping on toes?
