Sickling

Sickling is when a dancer’s foot is pointed incorrectly so that it curves inward, making a shape a bit like a sickle or a crescent moon. Instead of the foot and ankle forming a long, straight line, the toes turn in and the ankle bends out to the side. Sickling is considered a fault, and correcting it is a big focus in early training.

Why It Is a Problem

A correctly pointed foot should continue the straight line of the leg, with the heel pressed forward and the toes reaching down. When a foot sickles, that clean line breaks, which makes the leg look less finished. More importantly, dancing on a sickled foot is unsafe, especially on pointe or when landing jumps, because the ankle is not properly aligned and is more likely to roll or be injured.

Common Causes and Fixes

Sickling often comes from weak or untrained foot and ankle muscles, poor habits, or, in the case of pointe work, pointe shoes that do not fit correctly. Teachers usually correct it by reminding dancers to “wing” the foot slightly or to keep the heel pressing forward and the little-toe side lifted. Strengthening exercises for the feet and ankles help too. For young dancers, learning to feel the difference between a sickled and a correctly aligned foot is an important early step toward safe, clean technique.