Contributing Writer, Technique & Pointe
Miss Haley
Miss Haley writes BalletBox’s technique and pointe coverage, translating studio experience into clear, practical guidance for dancers working toward and dancing on pointe.
Articles
By Miss Haley
Ballet Jumps Explained: Sauté, Jeté, and More
A friendly guide to the main ballet jumps, from sauté to grand jeté. What each jump is, how it looks, and simple tips to help you jump higher and land softer.
Ballet Shoes vs Pointe Shoes: The Beginner's Guide
Ballet shoes vs pointe shoes, explained for beginners and parents. Here's the real difference between soft ballet slippers and pointe shoes, and why you can't start on pointe.
How to Become a Ballerina: The Realistic Path
How to become a ballerina, for real: when to start, how training builds, what auditions and company jobs look like, and an honest take on the odds.
Pas de Deux: Ballet Partnering Explained
What is a pas de deux? Here's the pas de deux meaning, the parts of a grand pas de deux, and what partnering skills like lifts and supported turns really take.
Relevé and Passé in Ballet: A Simple Guide
Relevé and passé are two moves you'll use in almost every class. Here's what a relevé is, how it differs from an élevé, and how passé (retiré) works.
Ballet Directions: Croisé, Effacé, and Écarté Made Easy
Ballet directions like croisé, effacé, écarté, and en face, explained in plain English so you know exactly how to face the body and why it changes how every step looks.
Fouetté Turns Explained (Plus the Famous 32)
What a fouetté turn is, how the whipping leg keeps you spinning, and how a ballerina pulls off 32 fouettés in Swan Lake without stopping.
Common Ballet Injuries and How to Prevent Them
A calm, plain-English guide to the most common ballet injuries, where they come from, and the everyday habits that help dancers stay healthy and keep dancing.
Port de Bras: Carriage of the Arms in Ballet
Port de bras means carriage of the arms. Here's how ballet arms move through the positions, why soft and breathing beats stiff, and the mistakes to skip.
Demi-Pointe: What It Is and How to Nail It
What is demi-pointe? It's rising onto the balls of your feet in ballet. Here's what demi-pointe means, how it differs from pointe, and how to relevé.
The 5 Basic Ballet Positions (of the Feet), Explained Simply
First through fifth position, broken down in plain language with the little cues teachers actually use. The foundation every ballet step is built on, minus the jargon.
Ballet Warm-Up Essentials: Gear and a Routine to Dance Safely
What to wear and how to warm up before ballet, with the warm-up gear worth owning and a simple routine that gets you ready to dance without injury.
Pointe Shoe Accessories: The Essentials Every Dancer Needs
The pointe shoe accessories that actually matter, from toe pads and spacers to ribbons, elastics, and blister care, and how to use each one.
Tendu Meaning: What It Is and How to Do One Right
Tendu means stretch. Here's what a tendu is, how to do a clean one, and the small mistakes that quietly hold most dancers back at the barre.