Kendall Jenner Has Seriously Angered Ballerinas With Her Vogue España Dance Shoot
The dance world is not happy with Kendall Jenner.
In her latest photo shoot with Vogue España, the 20-year-old model attempts to be a ballerina for the day, but unfortunately, she only pirouetted herself into a pool of major haters.
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In one of the pics, Kendall leans against a barre, dressed in a silky beige dress and matching gloves. While her ballerina bun is totally en pointe, her form and footwork is nowhere near close to that of a classically trained dancer.
Spanish Vogue by @miguelreveriego
A photo posted by Kendall Jenner (@kendalljenner) on Sep 19, 2016 at 4:15pm PDT
For starters, the pointe shoes Kendall is sporting are lacking the silky ribbons that normally lace up around a ballerina’s ankles for support, and the center knot is not neatly tucked into the shoe – two basic style lessons ballet dancers learn during their first week in a beginner’s pointe class. It’s also clear that the shoes were not broken in prior to the shoot, as they reveal no arch when the reality star attempts to stand on her tiptoes.
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In the accompanying video feature, Kendall dons a classic black ballet leotard, but with a pair of furry black pointe shoes that had real dancers screaming, “WTF?”
“I had to grow up pretty fast, but I love being a kid,” Kendall says in the clip, as her noticeably un-pointed feet appear in the frame, magically floating in the air.
She then (well, tries to!) sashay across the studio floor, using the barre for support, while jumping back and forth.
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Not only did dancers find the video “disrespectful,” they also found it majorly dangerous – trying to twirl en pointe with no training is almost guaranteed to land you an injury. In case you need reference to just how far off her form and technique was, here’s Misty Copeland, principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre, showing you:
1. How to correctly wear pointe shoes
A photo posted by Misty Copeland (@mistyonpointe) on Feb 12, 2015 at 1:19pm PST
2. How to gracefully lean on a barre
A photo posted by Misty Copeland (@mistyonpointe) on Jan 25, 2015 at 7:44am PST
3. How to flawlessly turn en pointe
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Fans trained in ballet were quick to comment on the shoot via Twitter, writing things like, “OMG, this form is cringeworthy!,” “Kendall’s ballet shoot is literally SO offensive to dancers, you can’t just put on a pair of pointe shoes and go for it,” and “she’s appropriating ballet culture.”
My (and every dancer’s) reaction to Kendall Jenner’s “”“”“"ballet”“”“”“” video…. pic.twitter.com/1ZG7ezSHv7
— darth lilith♔ (@HarLilQueen)
all dancers after seeing kendall jenner in pointe shoes pic.twitter.com/mo7RslfjuC
— taywilf (@taybooisadancer)
Why did Kendall Jenner do a ballet photo shoot INSTEAD OF AN ACTUAL BALLERINA.
— Kat (@KatherineWoods2)
Ballet dancers don’t train 7+ hours a day, 7days a week, to be represented by Kendall Jenner & her dodgy feet….
— lucy (@ohsolucee)
Kendall Jenner pretending she knows anything about ballet is truly the most offensive thing of 2016…
— Toby Flenderson (@Annalisep98)
Most ballet supply stores wont even let u buy pointe shoes w/o approval from ur instructor so clearly Kendall Jenner is way out of her lane.
— Emily Morton (@Emily_Morton_)
FYI Kendall Jenner in Vogue doing “ballet” isn’t pretty or healthy or correct #bye pic.twitter.com/4SejJim5SO
— Lila (@Lila_Gabriel_)
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Even Dance Moms star Abby Lee Miller weighed in on the controversy via Instagram. Naturally, she was the harshest critic of all.
“I don’t make a habit of commenting on all the dancers that post pics with incorrect technique. I would never get anything else done!” she wrote. “But I cannot be a fan of this shoot. There are so many amazing dancers in the world… Kendall Jenner is not one of them! Shame on Momager, Kris Jenner!!!”
“She never made these kids take dance class,” Abby Lee continued. “She better get North West to the @aldcstudiola before it’s too late!”
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