Pointe Shoe Fitting a TRANSGENDER DANCER

Thank you so much to Lennon Torres for sharing her story with us. Check her out at @lennon_torres_ & resources @continuumcommunity_
Shout out to USC Kaufman for allowing us to fit their students & film in their beautiful space. kaufman.usc.edu/
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Produced, Filmed & Edited by: Jazley Faith @jazzleyfaith

[@ThePointeShop]

Hey friends! Just wanted to let you all know since we're seeing this in the comments: Lennon was heavily involved in the editing process of this video. For those concerned about deadnaming her - we have a little text disclaimer at the end of the video. It was originally placed earlier in the video, but was moved to the end at Lennon's request. At the time of filming, Lennon was still figuring out her name and we were still able to refer to her as Zackery. By the time of upload, she has decided to go by Lennon. Thanks for all of your support & love to us, and Lennon! Keep dancing ❤️

[@yumenozen]

It's awesome seeing your sensitivity and genuine warmth when fitting her. These are conversation I wish had been able to happen when I was a kid, then the trajectory of my life would likely have been very different and I may have done dance instead of martial arts in my youth. At least now I get to learn as an adult, and pointe shoe options are also a lot better than back then too.

[@mermaidopulence8539]

I am a transgender ballet dancer and Im so glad you did this video......we get over looked all the time and to see companies trying to include everyone is amazing

[@red-inmy-50s-temper-dont-match]

I hope you have an amazing career!! much loves jacq, u.k

[@mermaidopulence8539]

@@red-inmy-50s-temper-dont-match thanks

[@anthonyaguilar3949]

I am too! But like… the other way around.

[@SpringStarFangirl]

I was definitely wondering why you were deadnaming Lennon, but I just saw the note at the end and I understand now. She hadn't chosen her name yet. Okay, point taken- I should stop assuming the worst.

[@boopointeshoes4116]

Thank you for this comment. I paused the video part way in, frustrated that it was happening and came to the comments. Now I can finish the video :)

[@ThePointeShop]

This video was consulted & approved by Lennon prior to upload - and she requested that the disclaimer about her name be added at the end :)

[@SpringStarFangirl]

@@ThePointeShop thanks for clarifying!

[@brokenguardianangel8575]

Didn't they say they use they/them pronouns ? She also referred to them as she which I found odd since they literally said they used different pronouns. Understandable but that struck me as odd as well.

[@loc5559]

@@brokenguardianangel8575 Lennon uses she/her. I think earlier she said they/them when first coming out and exploring her gender, but currently her pronouns are written as she/her in her bio online.

[@ge5462]

i watched her on abby’s ultimate dance competition when i was younger lol!! but i love seeing the positive and excepting atmosphere since the dance world makes it very difficult for dancers to feel enough because of the unrealistic expectations. love seeing how we are changing the ballet world!❤️

[@al38447]

Why does it to change?? I honestly want to hear from you

[@ge5462]

@@al38447 what do you mean? dance/ballet standards are very toxic and recently dancers have been stepping forward to talk about there experiences. including body image, assault, sexuality, and gender. the dance/ballet world needs to be changed for mental and physical health.

[@Ari-bc9te]

Wait she was on that show-

[@Luna-vo4bq]

WAIT OMG I WONDERED HOW I KINDA KNEW/ RECOGNISED HER, she’s actually amazing omg!!!

[@Ambermooneldridge]

I'm transgender and about to start ballet as an adult. I'm glad there are people like her trying to pave the way for transgender dancers.

[@jolienvsndijk]

I've never thought about this before (I mean I'm not a ballet dancer so it's not likely to come up lol) but I'd imagine it must be difficult to transition from male ballet dancer to female ballet dancer. You're missing years of pointe training compared to your peers. Even though it might be difficult I wish her all the best! The part where she says "it's more important to be true to myself than to have a career in dance" is so true, know your worth and never stop being yourself.

[@katekramer7679]

"Living my truth is more important than the fear of not having a dance career" This hit me like a ton of bricks. What would our world be like if everyone lived like this? Powerful.

[@SandyGooen]

OMG as a female to male trans dancer who has continued to do pointe throughout my transition I love seeing this!!!!

[@reillyamber160]

Yes!! I'm also transmasculine and I'm an adult beginner dancer, I think one day I would like to learn to dance on pointe because it looks so gorgeous and fun, even though it's not traditional for male dancers.

[@SandyGooen]

@@reillyamber160 depending on where you are based there are great resources and also my transition actually has made pointe easier tbh

[@AnnieNYC1]

Accepting humans as humans. Dancing through life whomever one is. Lovely. Thank you, Josephine, for giving a platform to open conversations about realities that no longer need stay hidden.

[@GuyG.KTalesOfAnimals]

As a Trans boy who’s also nonbinary, I really love how positive Lennon is about her past embodiments, it took me few YEARS of HRT to realize how I still have the little I also was as I grew girl in me exist, loving my past embodiments makes me feel whole. I love it! P.S, I really want to start ballet (23 years old), but I feel like being 1.55m hight is going to be funny, am a smoll man and I am not ashamed of it, I love being a miniature being - but I don’t know it is scary to try dance for the first time aaaaa

[@karybooks]

OMG her legs! GORGEOUS LEGS! Sorry, I just can't get over this. She is going to be a gorgeous on pointe dancer!

[@natakatsivalis]

I love how you tell all these stories through point shoe fitting ❤️❤️❤️

[@starsupontheland]

Ahhh!! As a trans (non-binary) ballet dancer this made me SO HAPPY to see! Thank you and Lennon so much for this video. Much love 💖💖

[@oatmilk.y]

Yay trans ballet dancer rep! I'm transmasc but I love doing pointe, I'm so excited to fuck with the gender stereotypes of the ballet world

[@nicolajaynehodson9223]

Yay ! Seems to be fewer trans masculine dancers esp in Ballet than trans women

[@SpringStarFangirl]

You got this in the bag, dude! All the more power to you.

[@micahdavis8289]

Omg me too Ive put too much effort into pointe to quit bc I'm a dude

[@alekseimonizmirov1395]

Me, too. Josephine fitted my shoes when I was finally ready as well. The gender binary shouldn't constrain art.

[@openhearts5000]

So beautiful to hear her mentioning that she has love for Zachary in her heart. 💜🥰

[@shayy.7]

lennon.

[@emhoj97]

​@@shayy.7 Lennon seems to refer to her past as a second person, she literally said "His name was Zachary and we love him". Lennon holding love for her past identity is a beautiful thing.

[@shayy.7]

@@emhoj97 oh omg i guess i wasnt rly listening lol. thanks!

[@cherylkavanagh3387]

So enjoyed this video. So much courage for her to step out and encourage others to join this conversation.

[@arquiteta.monicapires]

Omg! I don't know you but I'm so HAPPY for you! You're amazing and I wish you the best!!! It's so good to see you following your dreams and bringing representation 🖤🖤🖤

[@BebbaDubbs]

So happy you did this video and documented the fluidity of both Lennon's journey and The Pointe Shop's education ♥

[@atomicgoblin]

I'm trans in the opposite direction (ftm) and I just started ballet classes 6 months ago (at age 36). This makes my heart so happy❤️

[@Squirrelbear5950]

It’s nice to see a professional who sickles like me. It’s even nicer to see professional trans ballet dancer, it gives me hope for this field.

[@TheJayb623]

As a mom of a transgender child (who is an adult) lol... This is just beautiful!! Such an inspiration

[@xem5716]

i love people like her who are confident and want to change the world for the better, she is really inspiring and amazing. i dont really know my gender yet, I'm going as non-binary but I'm not 100% sure its right. i know I'm not trans, but I might be fluid gender. idk, I wont rush figuring it out.

[@freyagreaves1460]

The respect and love in this video is absolutely what we need and like to see 😍

[@rinasrandom]

My dance teacher is doing a group fitting with Josephine, hence why I'm back here. I love this video!

[@EllaDanz-mb8se]

I am a trans nonbinary dancer and I adore the fact that you made this video. It gives so much hope to me not to mention the other trans dancers all over the world. Brava to both you and Lennon.

[@charlottewinter4264]

Hi! I'm not trying to be rude or question your truth, but I was hoping that you could explain how you can be transgender as well as non-binary. I was under the impression that non-binary meant that you don't feel like neither a man nor a woman, and transgender meant you were transitioning from male to female or female to male. I'm genuinely curious about how you can be both, I hope you don't mind explaining. I'd like to be more educated :)

[@charlottewinter4264]

@@couchbug Thank you for this!

[@e.goldmanhilbert9233]

Josephine!!! This fitting just thrilled my heart. SO SO SO happy to see the all-inclusivity! Dancers must dance! Gender/sexual identity should never stand in the way of that. Thank you for your videos. Xoxoxo

[@greenbeantm1096]

Oh my god the fact that she was on AUDC!

[@FelipeyTiagoRoleRotation]

Thank you so much for this video. It really inspired us to continue our fight in the dance world. For a better and more inclusive place for all the talent available.

[@kitthazelton2309]

Josephine, your knowledge and ability to help dancers are awesome.

[@Saoirse3797]

Oh my gosh I remember her from Dance Moms! So happy to see she has continued in dance and is doing so well!

[@chiara4243]

OMG YESSS LOVE LENNON 🙌 I have been so annoying requesting this video from the both of you lol

[@austinluther5825]

Thank you for this! I'm a trans man and a complete amateur, but I love to dance and it's inspiring to see trans dancers living openly and honestly.

[@ghost_of_an_olive_tree]

First! I'm so glad I saw a transgender dancer. I'm trans as well, I just can believe someone actually did it like me

[@hopefultraveler3543]

Wonderful fitting, Josephine, thanks!

[@mybrainbroke7976]

i am a trans dancer and i am so glad to see someone fully and openly embracing their identity in the dance world.

[@beautifullvega]

THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH FOR THIS

[@TovahLauren]

Thank you for being so inclusive!

[@viviangarcia2631]

Josephine, you’re awesome 👏

[@jasmine.2561]

thank you

[@pegasus36au]

This is fantastic the Adult Ballet school I go to in Australia is run by a wonderfully warm transgender lady who danced professionally it doesn't matter who you are, you can achieve your hearts desire 💜

[@nataliepetruzalek7517]

Do you think you can do a how to sew your Pointe shoes? It would be really helpful to alot of people I think

[@debbiethomas2622]

Good for you. 👍🏻 wish you a long and fulfilling dance life.

[@sandralantau7395]

Thank you for sharing your story!

[@5167304]

100%. Artists in the dance world are pretty accepting and supportive but the change needs to happen in the choreographic works and the training by gender paradigm needs to shift too. Plus pointe technique would benefit anyone's strength, line and form!! All female/male/nonbinary dancers should be encouraged to take it IMO.

[@Isthie]

You should make about the strange customization ballerina's do to their shoes! Like shaving the shanks etc, and how you could avoid that with a good shoe

[@beckyleeBC]

She has dozens of videos about this topic, you should scroll through her videos!

[@YenellyT]

I remember her on dance moms !

[@EMMERZ.CRAIG08]

50! Wow I'm pretty early! Also this was really cool

[@kari-ngforbooks908]

❤️❤️❤️

[@KpopManiac_143]

I remember watching her on Audc. I knew she wasn’t happy in her body. I’m so glad she found herself!

[@shoe777]

Omg she's stunning! Loved this vid.

[@JGreen-le8xx]

Josephine❤❤❤❤❤❤❤😄

[@briannehunt6189]

Her legs are amazing. So jealous!!!!

[@freewheeler6387]

When I first realized what pointe shoes ARE - I thought, "My God! It's a tool!" And I made the connection with a flathead screwdriver! I've been wondering lately Why the connection with femininity? Is it simply tradition?

[@samanthaadrianna]

So well spoken

[@AlphaGeekgirl]

4:30 I am interested in what you mean by “demand change”. It would have been good to explain, because I’m just as much in the dark, And I am curious as to whether change is not happening because people don’t know what is required

[@JillianLovesBooks]

I could be wrong, but I think they were talking about demanding change specifically in the world of dance. Dance companies/dancers/choreographers often preach inclusivity and acceptance, but dance is still bound by traditional boundaries, such as boy/girl partnering, only skinny girls being on pointe, not allowing trans women to be cast in productions as the women dancers they are, etc. I think what Lennon was getting at is that she hopes that younger dancers get into these older programs and demand they make the changes they preach about supporting. :)

[@nicolajaynehodson9223]

As a trans women who started taking class in her 30s and now in my 40s doing pointe and aiming to complete my RAD Intermediate , this is such good news ( I wear Grishko/ Nikolay Maya 1 se - thanks Leanne- Straight to the pointe - here in the UK)

[@suzannadannaTARDIS]

So happy that transgender dancers are able to live their truth and hope that more feel comfortable in being who they truly are on stage.

[@jenniferharris1280]

what incredible legs Lennon has!

[@sojama01]

Do u have any locations in Seattle

[@vincenzoarieggiato120]

🙌🙌🙌

[@choirkitty]

Legs for days! Your feet looked beautiful in pointe shoes, I hope we get to see more of you en pointe as you get stronger and overcome the sickle :)

[@isashisha]

whoa all i can think about is how hypermobile those elbows look (like at 1:24)! yea..i have hEDS so i notice things like this quickly lol

[@sabinajoh]

Damn I want a pointe shoe fitting but for normal shoes. I got my left food stuck in my bike wheel when I was like 8 and my ankle has been fucked since. When I run sometimes my foot gets in this angle and it hurts really bad. I’m pretty sure I fractured it when it happened. (but the doctor I got was known to be bad, people had been to her then the normal hospital and went from “yeah you have no fractures” to “holy shit it’s broken”)

[@prunejuicer]

omg i watched her on audc

[@tijay8507]

She was only on Dance Moms

[@KonigsBbg]

Okay I didn’t know that she transitioned like wow I was just watching the shows and wow like good for her

[@cutfingeronmomsringhopeica3208]

A crossover with two of my fav internet people! I was hoping it would be Lennon when I clicked on this vid!!!

[@marciareagan2718]

💗

[@MilesFredrick]

Wait people can just do this!?!?!? So i dont have to quit ballet just to cut my hair?!?!?

[@tina7151]

Please react to pointe tap shoe. Pleaase

[@aaa-pt7bd]

REACTING TO BALLET TIKTOKS PART 6?.

[@ThePointeShop]

gotchu. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mmmUZXmmpqqFj6c

[@paradoxzee6834]

How can the foot look soft and feminem and strong muscular at the same time?

[@overgrownkudzu]

yesss we stan

[@annettefournier9655]

Being very tall will also limit your prospects for a contract in a company as a female dancer.

[@carochan86]

I think it also has to do with the weight of the dancer as well. She is very lean . I would think she would be ok. Long as she is skilled enough it shouldn't matter. I hope ballet doesn't develope body issue.

[@tijay8507]

She may not get into the corps/ensemble due to her height but as she is a great dancer she could aim for the solo/lead roles... there are more tall male dancers to partner taller female dancers nowadays so she should hopefully get plenty of roles... i would focus on companies that do modern ballets so there is scope to cast whoever is the best dancer for that role not be hung up on old fashioned stereotypes ...she may be able to work with new choreographers on roles built around her strengths x

[@Leleponne]

@@tijay8507 what do you mean by old fashioned stereotypes?

[@tijay8507]

@@Leleponne Take a guess! what it is subject.. oh yes tall dancers!!!!!!

[@elmosworld1237]

How did I not know she was trans I watch her on dance moms for like ever lol

[@Giulliana13]

can you pleasee react to an episode of dance academy & dance moms?

[@ThePointeShop]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/mqHCmKJvhJahiqs :)

[@gamozzie]

Lennon you are beautiful.

[@siimplycoxo1946]

Hiiii

[@Emy_eq]

Where the hell is it amazing

[@maddiesullivan588]

???

[@hgmorgan2012]

Lol his name is horace . Me Horace morgan the III SNAPPING MY HEAD IP

[@shoe777]

She's a girl- unless you're talking about someone else in the video?

[@emhoj97]

​@@shoe777 Josephine noticed a tattoo on Lennons ankle and Lennon referred to it as Horace.

[@shoe777]

@@emhoj97 OHHHHHHHHH LMAAAOOAAO THANK YOU I WAS SO LOST

[@MirandaDue]

Fight on!!

[@JessicaCEP]

Pretty!

[@analuciagonzaleznoriega110]

Horace 🙃

[@MrQbenDanny]

The professional Ballet Companies of the world particularly the world class like Mariinsky, Bolshoi, Royal, PARIS OPERA, maintain strict traditions. Ditto their schools. I guarantee they will never change. ABT? strict maybe...you would have to look like Gelsey. There is the Trocks franchise which themselves are very strict in casting!!! Given the extraordinary levels these days, you better put your best MAYA PLISETSKAYA tutu and dance like her for a job!!! Bonne Chance!!!

[@maddiesullivan588]

Change is never impossible, and everyone deserves to be treated with respect, dignity, and acceptance. Telling someone who is trans “oh well things are never going to change” is not ok anymore. Things are going to change, so get on board, or get out of the way.

[@MrQbenDanny]

@@maddiesullivan588 I write what I want and feel like. Nobody dictates political pamphlets to me. Contact Mariinsky, BOLSHOI, Paris OPERA, send THEM your comment and sit in a really comfortable chair waiting for their reply.

[@Leleponne]

But what is is that is going to change? Could he partner with another man? Is he going to take the company positions reserved for women? I don’t understand at all…

[@MrQbenDanny]

@@Leleponne Nothing is going to change Leticia, the great iconic Ballet consevatoires particularly the Russian MARIINSKY, BOLSHOI and others less famous like the KREMLIN and PERM Russian Ballet companies have existed for over 200 years of tradition and teaching their craft. Perhaps if all Trans Ballet dancers get together and protest at the KIROV school in Washington DC maybe it can start a movement worldwide. Even better, protest in St.Petersburg Russia 🇷🇺 at MARIINSKY and BOLSHOI in Moscow. That's how you can make major changes. Get big stars like IVAN VASILIEV and NATALIA OSIPOVA to support the Trans in Ballet movement. Can you picture IVAN VASILIEV as Giselle and OSIPOVA as Count ALBRECHT?

[@onyxcampbell3367]

I think you may have dead named her, you should edit that out

[@ladycreedrain726]

It's noted at the end of the video that she hadn't chosen her new name yet at the time of filming but has since started going by Lennon

[@brimaria7154]

Anyone remember her from dance moms lol?!?

[@idraote]

She has the body lines of a male dancer and I am not sure that, even after completing her transition, that will go away. It shouldn't be too much of a problem for contemporary dance but it might be one if she wants to pursue conventional ballet. She also appears to be quite tall.

[@jessicaye8982]

ok so I'm glad she's sharing the story but i don't agree that she's blaming it on the show cause she could've not done dance moms and just do audc and I mean she did get famous for the shows and she earned money sooooo

[@spudfox6270]

I feel like if you don't fully understand how she felt, then you don't get to tell her how to talk about her own experiences lol

[@jessicaye8982]

@@spudfox6270 all of the things i've said is true. She had the choice to not do dance moms. And she got paired for it.

[@phoenixgate007]

I also have a longer second toe! I didn’t think dancers had this too 🤔

[@tijay8507]

What a strange comment! why would being a dancer change someones toe length!

[@audreyt114]

oo im early

[@honeymoondoll6155]

😬

[@shoe777]

What's your problem?

[@carochan86]

To me transgender doesn't matter and is irrelavent. It shouldn't define you. I wish she could be like "my name is Lennon I prefer to perform the female roles in ballet". No matter what I hope she goes far.

[@nicolajaynehodson9223]

Way to erase trans folx...

[@maddiesullivan588]

So basically you are refusing to see her as the trans person she is. This is just as bad as saying “I don’t see color.” You need to stop!!!!

[@Leleponne]

Could really perform female roles? Like lifts and stuff?

[@nicolajaynehodson9223]

@@Leleponne all depends on the size of the dancer ...

[@beebutt7244]

We had a trans dancer, she was the absolute worst human being possible. She always got all the great attention despite not being too good, and before you get offended technique in ballet is important, that girl barely managed to do most things but would jump at others and go "im better than you". If she didn't receive something she wanted, , she would make it a point that were all transphobic. Were talking about per say I told her I wouldn't give her a hair tie cause I was out myself and she had an hour long tantrum that shes trans and I am transphobic cause of a HAIR TIE. Whenever other girls refused her something or just couldn't do a certain thing for her, same story screaming and tantrum cause were "transphobic". In the end she was removed for exactly that behavior and she tried to sue our teacher for it lmao

[@xxth3plagu3d0ctorxx]

Ok… sorry you had a bad experience… but what does that have to do with this trans dancer? Trans people are not a homogenous Group of people. We don’t fit in a little box like that we don’t do all the same things. I’m not saying you’re transphobic, because I have a feeling you’ll label anything I say as me claiming you’re transphobic. But it is not a very kind thing to just talk this one trans dancer you did not like/ wasn’t talented or whatever under a video about a wholey unrelated trans person. You might want to rethink that because it makes you seem ignorant. Imagine if I went out of my way to talk about my bad experiences with cis people every time I seen one… that would be a yikes.

[@amandab8086]

Umm ok can’t say that I believe this, but if it is true I’m sorry that was your experience. Don’t get what that has to do with this video though?

[@arielreilly5397]

So you know all trans people are different right? Not sure what you knowing a person who was an asshole and happened to be trans has to do with this post. Seems like to just wanna talk shit about trans people. Stop trolling and get a life

[@tijay8507]

Why did you have to bring up this bad experience ... it is attention seeking and really quite rude!

[@maddiesullivan588]

Wooow, you met one person you didn’t like (and honestly you just sound like you made up the story, and you are just a transphobic jerk) so EVERY single trans human being must be terrible as well. Just stop talking.

[@Emy_eq]

It is a boy 👦

[@violethils5110]

hon be respectful

[@lolclaire7129]

girl*

[@gloriouslyimperfect]

Please take this time to educate yourself on gender dysmoprhia and trans issues. This is not a boy.

[@mermaidopulence8539]

Yall don't even wast yalls time on Emma Jager because they just want attention

[@gloriouslyimperfect]

@@mermaidopulence8539 I have zero problem pointing them to education materials. Not everyone is knowledgeable. What they do with that is entirely up to them.