I was wondering whether any of the dancers/podiatrists/dancing podiatrists out there can tell me whether having "flat feet" (meaning lacking an arch - though perhaps you can supply a more accurate definition) necessarily condemns a person to "dancing flat-footed"
as the judges might describe poor footwork? I'm thinking of how Alison said on ITT that she has flat feet when talking about her lack of footwork.

Thanks

I have none of the qualifications you mention but I don't think having flat feet and dancing flat footed are the same thing. Someone with perfectly formed arches can certainly dance flat footed. (many do) I don't know if someone with flat feet can execute good heel toe actions but I can't see why not.

I have, what you might call, fallen arches and I have no trouble at all dancing in heels or learning the correct footwork

Being flat footed meant I could never get the lightness needed for ballroom. I suspect just arch supports & a slightly higher heel might help Alison as she has good legs an no obvious knee problems. However, I do not think there is a permanent cure for flat feet especially carrying extra weight causing pronation. Pronation is the biggest problem as this puts all the weight on the inside of the foot. Different to fallen arches which you can have without the pronation.

Wearing heels is a matter of leg muscles. People who wear heels all the time suffer in flats & vice versa.

Dance shoes are made by specific manufacturers who can alter shoes to fit the wearer. To build extra arch support into a dance shoe is no problem at all, and many people who have flat feet can dance perfectly well. One of the world class ballroom dancers (now retired from competition) has flat feet but it didn't stop him getting into the top 10 in the world! And it's even easier for women who have heels which also help.

Flat feet is just an excuse!

Its the heels that stuff me, as all my shoes have arch supports.

Important not to have the heel too high, especially if you have small feet.

I'm both a bigger girl and flat flooted and I don't generally dance flat footed. I actually find that much more difficult. My instinct when dancing is to go onto the balls of my feet. Flat feet are a hinderance for a lot of things including high heels and a lot of sports activities but it's perfectly possible to get by in mid height heels for dancing and not just clomp and stomp around.

I do find the balls of my feet ache a bit if I've been doing it for a while but it's worth it for better results. I think Alison could do it but doesn't want the pain that comes with it. Even Lisa managed in heels last year. You can get supports and stuff which help as people say, I pretty much try to get on with it and just don't wear especially high heels. I learned to live with it and adapt being diagnosed a kid and well the operation that I could have had was risky so I get on with it,but Alison should at least try and I'm sure shoes could have been made to accommodate i.e wider heel but a but higher to give some support but not prevent her being able to do it.

Thanks, everyone who re[lied - I feel a bit better about my own arches heading south. Let's hope Alison puts more effort into her footwork.

Mind you, as I'm now involved in wheelchair dancing, I need to watch out for flat tyres rather than flat feet, ahahaha - oh dear.

Part of Alisons reason for wearing flat shoes is that she and Alijaz are virtually the same height - and it looks better for the lady to be shorter than the man (or so she said on ITT)

Her other one was that she has flat feet and finds heels painful.