"Self-Taught Ballerina's Go Online"

Rachel was quoted in a Wall Street Journal front-page article, "Self-Taught Ballerina's Go Online". YouTube has given many aspiring ballerinas a venue to exhibit their skills, but it has served to bring to light the dangers of poor training. Going en pointe holds a certain romantic appeal for these girls, but they risk serious injury by doing so before their bones are fully developed and without the proper training.

For anyone with an appreciation of ballet, it can be painful to watch some of these videos, from both aesthetic and sports medicine perspectives:

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNNrAKibXsM
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGeuCOeX80U
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZSd4YzlY8Q
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdhIV86MEXw
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpuD4roPjMc
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_zzc5ORwCU
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6aeSkeIOfY&NR=1
• http://www.youtube.com/user/lisahowell2 discusses some of the risks