do dancers need toe picks?

[Artemis]

I was watching Moulin Rouge again this weekend. During the tango scene there's a move where the "narcoleptic Argentinian" drags his female partner across the floor on her toes. Now I'm sure I'm not the only one who, when she watches dancing, thinks about translating it to the ice. :) But of course a move like that on the ice would create great big gouges in the ice from the toe pick.

So that led me to wondering whether dancers actually need their toe picks. I'm guessing that certain optional footwork moves would be executed differently, but are there any required spins, twizzles, or patterns that use the toe picks in dance? I'm not a skater myself so I just can't picture the mechanics.

[icenut84]

I'll try to answer your question as best I can. Obviously, the main use for toe picks is for jumps. However, they are also used for spins (during some spins, the bottom pick is lightly grazing the ice, eg. a scratch spin, and also for entering spins to some extent - you may have noticed that sometimes a skater almost seems to go up onto their toe just before they spin, although it is usually only very slight if at all, I think). I assume this is also the case for dance spins, although I haven't done dance spins myself. Toe picks are also used for some steps (eg. hops, and remember the dancers can do jumps as long as they're not more than 1 rotation or something), and some other moves (originality). Also, the toe pick acts as something to steady you, retain balance and keep control when you land, either backwards or forwards. Even on jumps, the toe pick of the skater's landing foot is the first thing to touch the ice, and the last thing to leave the ice on takeoffs. Apart from jumps/hops, the skater needs this balance and control on lifts - the woman will use the toe pick to help launch into the lift (to get a good push off into the air/the position, otherwise she might slip), and also to control the landing. If she lands forwards, she might just be placed on the edge by the partner (he'd usually be still holding her), or if she lands on her own or with little support, she might land on the toe pick of one foot before gliding almost straight away on the edge of the other foot. This gives her total control. If she lands backwards, it's the same as with jumps in that the toe is the first thing to touch the ice.

So to summarise a very long-winded answer, yes, dancers need toe picks. :D Hope that helps! lol