Ciara Wears Pointe Shoes, Dancers Everywhere Cringe

Why, Ciara, why? That’s the question we’ve been asking ever since we saw the R&B star’s latest video, “I Bet,” in which she straps on a pair of pointe shoes.

You may be thinking, “OK, it can’t be that bad…right?” Well, let’s just say #SickleCity Ballet Company has found its newest principal:

She’s lucky her ankles survived the making of this video.

Look, we’re huge fans of ballet—and dance in general—in mainstream music videos. We seriously flipped when Shaping Sound backed up Carrie Underwood, and when Florence + The Machine’s “Spectrum” featured dancers from California’s Southland Ballet Academy/Festival Ballet Theatre; we were all about TSwift’s witty Swan Lake parody and Kanye West’s “Runaway” video. But Ciara’s attempt at pointework is another story.

Now, Ciara does deserve a lot of credit. She looks pretty fantastic (barefoot) in that white leo and matching legwarmers—amazing enough to rival Queen Bey herself. Example A:

Everyone needs a white turtleneck bodysuit #fierce.

And the video’s moments of pure hairography genius are stunning. Example B:

#windpower

But then an image like Example C flashes across the screen, and all that was right in the world is forgotten:

Wait for it…

…some things you can’t unsee.

Unless you’re a trained ballet dancer, and you know for a fact you won’t injure yourself (or your viewers’ eyes), just leave the pointe shoes out of it. That’s our PSA and we’re sticking to it.

What do you think about Ciara’s video? Are you having Free People flashbacks? Or do you think we’re overreacting? Take a look at “I Bet” below, and let us know your thoughts in the comments.