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Type 1 child: Are Ballet Dancing and string instruments ok?

acox75

acox75

Well-Known Member
Messages
63
Location
West Midlands
Type of diabetes
Parent
Treatment type
Pump
Dislikes
Idiotic people, know it alls who know nothing, lazy home educators!
My 4.5 year old has started dance but there will be elements of ballet in some sessions. Does anyone know if his feet will be affected if he did it? Only because he has to look after his feet and I wondered if it may be too much pressure.

Also, he will be starting piano lessons but wants to learn the violin too. Will his fingers be ok with pressing the strings?

These questions may be silly but I need to make sure for his health.

Please advise if I've posted in the wrong place too Thanks.
 
@acox75 As long as his shoes fit ok, I would think not. I used to do ballet and I had no problems. I would make sure he's comfortable and check his feet to be safe.

Again, with the violin, that shouldn't be an issue.

And they're not silly questions : )
 
wow -- that is a totally tough question ------------- I have been D for 44 + years and have no trouble at all with my feet.
but.........I have never been a dancer ---- I played 11 a side football for many many years with no problem.

is he allowed any protection on his feet at practise ....... or is it all meant to be barefoot ?
normally us D's should not really go barefoot ( for long term health safety )
 
acox75 said:
My 4.5 year old has started dance but there will be elements of ballet in some sessions. Does anyone know if his feet will be affected if he did it? Only because he has to look after his feet and I wondered if it may be too much pressure.

Also, he will be starting piano lessons but wants to learn the violin too. Will his fingers be ok with pressing the strings?

These questions may be silly but I need to make sure for his health.

Please advise if I've posted in the wrong place too Thanks.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't worry about ballet as a male, or even as a female in the early years. What really tears up feet in ballet (moreso if not properly supervised) is dancing en pointe. Men don't, and most women never get there because it is years of training (and a certain finality of bone growth) - and lot of folks drop out before they get there. My daughter and I each danced for 3-4 years before dancing en pointem, and both of us were very late starters. Neither one of us danced much beyond achieving that goal - I had to make a choice between dancing and gymnastics since the back postures are somewhat incompatible and my daughter was diagnosed with a chronic illness and couldn't keep it up.

At the point at which he gets serious about it, he'll be old enough to make more informed choices about how his diabetes is progressing, how to care for his feet vis-a-vis dancing, and whether the additional effort that takes will be worth it to him.

But look up Zippora Karz & Tara Neill.
 
acox75 said:
My 4.5 year old has started dance but there will be elements of ballet in some sessions. Does anyone know if his feet will be affected if he did it? Only because he has to look after his feet and I wondered if it may be too much pressure.

Also, he will be starting piano lessons but wants to learn the violin too. Will his fingers be ok with pressing the strings?

These questions may be silly but I need to make sure for his health.

Please advise if I've posted in the wrong place too Thanks.
Click to expand...

Hi,

My mum was a professional dancer in her day..

Regarding Ballet as a young diabetic? No issues. I went on to Laine theatre arts in Surrey covering other dance forms too!
My feet and toes are all still where they should be..

String instruments.? I also learned piano & had a guitar.. Lol, I wasn't very good at either.. Though I still keep the acoustic.

I'm more likely to cause hand injury working on my van??

Though I didn't find my feet in the "West end", I did become a singer in a heavy metal band. Now that was something my mum could worry about with the reputation & temptations of touring... ;)
 
I played violin although I'm not diabetic, he will develop callouses on his finger tips so will make lancing more difficult there and may have to use alternative fingers but other than that he will be fine :)
 
shivles said:
I played violin although I'm not diabetic, he will develop callouses on his finger tips so will make lancing more difficult there and may have to use alternative fingers but other than that he will be fine :)
Click to expand...

I am the Lord of the lance..! Use the sides. :D
 
himtoo said:
wow -- that is a totally tough question ------------- I have been D for 44 + years and have no trouble at all with my feet.
but.........I have never been a dancer ---- I played 11 a side football for many many years with no problem.

is he allowed any protection on his feet at practise ....... or is it all meant to be barefoot ?
normally us D's should not really go barefoot ( for long term health safety )
Click to expand...
Hi, I haven't said anything yet he's only had 1 lesson in normal clothing. I am hoping to speak to the dance teacher about him wearing pumps - I'm sure that will be fine.
 
azure said:
@acox75 As long as his shoes fit ok, I would think not. I used to do ballet and I had no problems. I would make sure he's comfortable and check his feet to be safe.

Again, with the violin, that shouldn't be an issue.

And they're not silly questions : )
Click to expand...
Thank you. I just want to be sure as he loves dance and I'd hate nit to send him.
 
Neohdiver said:
I wouldn't worry about ballet as a male, or even as a female in the early years. What really tears up feet in ballet (moreso if not properly supervised) is dancing en pointe. Men don't, and most women never get there because it is years of training (and a certain finality of bone growth) - and lot of folks drop out before they get there. My daughter and I each danced for 3-4 years before dancing en pointem, and both of us were very late starters. Neither one of us danced much beyond achieving that goal - I had to make a choice between dancing and gymnastics since the back postures are somewhat incompatible and my daughter was diagnosed with a chronic illness and couldn't keep it up.

At the point at which he gets serious about it, he'll be old enough to make more informed choices about how his diabetes is progressing, how to care for his feet vis-a-vis dancing, and whether the additional effort that takes will be worth it to him.

But look up Zippora Karz & Tara Neill.
Click to expand...
Thank you
 
Jaylee said:
Hi,

My mum was a professional dancer in her day..

Regarding Ballet as a young diabetic? No issues. I went on to Laine theatre arts in Surrey covering other dance forms too!
My feet and toes are all still where they should be..

String instruments.? I also learned piano & had a guitar.. Lol, I wasn't very good at either.. Though I still keep the acoustic.

I'm more likely to cause hand injury working on my van??

Though I didn't find my feet in the "West end", I did become a singer in a heavy metal band. Now that was something my mum could worry about with the reputation & temptations of touring... ;)
Click to expand...
Lol. Thank you
 
shivles said:
I played violin although I'm not diabetic, he will develop callouses on his finger tips so will make lancing more difficult there and may have to use alternative fingers but other than that he will be fine :)
Click to expand...
Thank you
 
I am a cellist, and my fingers are fine when I play my instrument. I make sure I don't overdo my playing and if my fingers start feeling a little funny, I let my teacher know. It doesn't happen very often, but after playing consistently for a long period of time, it will make the fingers feel a little "off" I guess you could say. Do you know how long your child will be playing instrument? Hope I could help.
 
I have a quick note only about music instruments.
I think that piano and violin lessons together could be quite demanding for practice time. It's better in my opinion to start with ear training and solfege aimed to the piano, to learn to read both violin an bass keys. Beware that also piano practice could cause some conditions due a bad posture or the carpal tunnel syndrome.
 
I learnt both piano and violin as a young child and had no problems. It's just fun at that age :)
 
azure said:
I learnt both piano and violin as a young child and had no problems. It's just fun at that age :)
Click to expand...
It's true! Also as a child you have a lot of free time and don't have all the worries from the work, the bank accoutn and so on...
 
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