Why is it so
important to wait
to begin Pointe?
Trust your teachers and know they have the students best interest at heart. A few things ballet instructors look for before advancing a dancer to pointe can be: strength, technique, consistency, turnout and balance. If a student rushes to begin pointe and doesn’t have proper training the risk of injury is very high. We want to elaborate on the importance here and we hope this helps to explain why your instructor might be making you wait.
Technique
Each student is different in the way their body works however, it is crucial that the student has taken 2-3 years of ballet prior to beginning pointe. Learning how to use your turnout correctly is also very important. This comes from the hips and this takes a while to learn that turnout doesn’t come from the knees and feet. A teacher also looks for sickling of the feet when doing basic ballet moves. A dancer should also be able to perform a demi-plie while keeping the knee in line with the toes. A dancer must also be able to fully point her foot while doing barre and center without sickling her foot.
Strength/Balance
When a dancer is wanting to start pointe, strength and balance are crucial aspects of pointe. The student should be able to perform a passé with a straight leg. When a passé is performed én pointe, this step is much harder and often with a bent knee. The knee needs to be straightened to prevent injury. When performing a passé on half-pointe, the dancer should be able to balance with confidence. A dancer must also be able to do multiple relevés in center to build the correct muscle needed to be a pointe dancer. A teacher will also keep an eye out for a sturdy supporting leg when doing balance work. If the ankle is wiggling, it shows a weakness and that is where strengthening needs to take place prior to getting pointe shoes.
Posture
Posture is also very important when doing ballet work. When it comes to pointe, a dancer must be able to hold a straight trunk. Tilting the pelvis can show weak back and lower abdominal muscles. When a strong trunk is not in placed, it can cause the dancer to become off balance.
Age
Foot bones do not fully develop until around the ages of 13-15. A dancer must be strong enough to support and protect those foot bones if they start at an early age. It is important to not rush the process of becoming a pointe dancer, unwanted injuries can happen.
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A few other things that a teacher may keep an eye out for before starting a dancer on pointe can be: weight, the arch of a foot, the ability to perform well for an entire class (this shows good health and strength) and a teacher will also require the dancer to take other ballet classes during the week to keep technique, strength and balance exceptional.
At Paquita Dance Center we pride ourselves on the ability to help a dancer be the best they can be prior to beginning pointe. We truly want what is best for the students we teach - physically and emotionally. There is always a risk of injury when rushing this process along. We encourage you to meet with your dance instructor to see what they recommend working on. Trust your teacher and the process.
