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This article is from the Ballet and Modern Dance FAQ, by Tom Parsons twp@panix.com with numerous contributions by others.

2.8. Why don't men dance on pointe?

Men *do* dance on pointe, on rare occasions. They may be
deliberately dancing women's roles, as in the Ballet Trockadero. Some
choreographers have had men wear pointe shoes for special effects; posters
in this group have instanced Sir Frederick Ashton's "The Dream" (based
on "A Midsummer Night's Dream"), in which a man wears pointe shoes to
represent Bottom's hooves (when he has been turned into a donkey), Mark
Morris's "Hard Nut", (based on the "Nutcracker"), and some versions of
"Cinderella" and of "La Fille Mal Gard'ee". In addition, some men also
find pointe work good for strengthening the arch of the foot.

 

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• prev: 2.7. Do women really dance on their toes? Why?
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• next: 2.9. Why do dancers stand with their feet turned out?

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