For dancers, getting your first pair of pointe shoes is a sign that your hard work is paying off and you're beginning to develop into a strong and trained dancer. Pointe shoes are a symbol of higher training and for some reason, this torture chamber of a shoe is something that most young dancers aim toward.
After eight years of pointe classes and spending way too much money on shoes that are just going to get soft once I use them for more than a few weeks, I stand by the truth that pointe shoes are not a joke. You can't just slip them on, go up on your toes and say, "Look mom! I'm a ballerina!" But apparently, Kendall Jenner can.
The recent "Vogue España" video depicting Jenner, their October cover star, dancing around in a ballet studio has brought fury to the dance world. Donning ballet shoes, a less than professional tutu and an array of clothing that are not ballet class suitable, Jenner hangs on the barres and twirls around, showcasing all the things that dancers work to fix.
While the video talks about how the 20-year-old model still loves to be a kid and do "stupid stuff," Jenner's lack of ballet technique presents a strong misrepresentation of a dancer. Not only does the video not even mention dance, but to my knowledge, Jenner has never been involved in any serious dance training that would lead to her slipping on ballet shoes. Basically, the dance class theme of the video appears to be rather far-fetched and unnecessary.
Although, I can understand why the ballet attire and theme may have been chosen—due to Jenner discussing her love of still acting like a child. Many parents send their little girl to her first dance class in socks, a tutu, and a messy bun, hoping she gains elegance, posture and enjoys herself while possibly finding passion in a beautiful art form. However, Jenner could have just as easily been running around a playground or hang out with friends, or perhaps, just being herself—considering the video is discussing how she enjoys the "good old days" and wants to keep doing what she's doing.
Between the video and the coupled pictures, my dancer brain cringes as Jenner showcases bent knees, sickled feet, a swayed back, unpointed feet and a clear disregard for studio etiquette. While I'm sure it was no one's intention to make fun or put ballet on a level playing field with simply goofing off, that is the vibe protruding from Jenner's feature.
People involved in the dance world (or any of the arts for that matter) work hard to convince the public that their profession and passion are just as respectable as anything else. Dance is just as much a sport as football or soccer and takes just as much brain power as other careers. When representations such as the one presented by "Vogue España" go out into the world, the dance world sees all the naive minds believing that a loose bun and floppy, unfitted ballet shoes are all the dance world is about.
