FAQ

1) Do you have a background in ballet?
A little. I started dancing when I was almost 30. I currently take three ballet classes per week. I also write a blog devoted to my journey in ballet and rheumatism, if you are interested in that sort of thing.

2) Where do you find your porcelain ballerina images?
Online, mostly on sites like Ebay where they are being sold. If you happen to be the person who took a particular photo and would like credit, please send me your information! If you still have a  figurine or doll that I used available for sale I would be more than happy to link to your listing or contact information. Who knows, you might get some interested customers!

3) Why are porcelain ballerinas so bad?
I like to think that they were mostly created by people who had little to no experience with actual dancers, or who were sculpting from vague memory rather than a live model. Also, most of them were mass produced, leaving little time and talent that could be devoted to each one.
Then, of course, there are the dolls that have just been mishandled, badly posed, and/or ineffectually photographed. Not all porcelain ballerinas were created awkward as all heck, some achieved awkwardness through no fault of their own.

4) Who made the porcelain ballerinas?
Oh, so many companies. Most of the original ballerinas are vintage, and it's entirely possible that the companies responsible simply don't exist any more. If you know the manufacturer of any of them, feel free to comment with the information. I am sure there are people who would like to know!

5) What makes a perfect awkward porcelain ballerina?
A certain ridiculousness of pose and bearing. Not all of my ballerinas are badly sculpted, some are just badly photographed, or badly mangled by their previous owners.

6) Is that you in your pictures?
Yep.