When do you start pointe shoes

During the first year of pointe you will probably be expected to take at least three or four ballet classes a week a minimum of 5 hours. Your demeanor shows that you have the maturity for pointework. Your attitude is attentive and hardworking, and your studio etiquette is exemplary.

Pointework requires a continual lifting up and out of the shoe. That means that you can always hold your turnout when you dance, that your abdomen and lower back — your core — are strong, and that your legs, and especially your knees, are really pulled up.

Calf and ankle strength are essential. You should be in good health, not recovering from illness or injury, and of normal weight. You must possess the stamina to make it through a full ballet class several times a week. Proper supervision is so important that some schools require that their students keep their pointe shoes at the studio. And when you are ready to go on pointe, congratulations. You have worked hard for this moment.

Larissa Saveliev, YAGP co-founder and director, says, "Ten years ago we didn't have to have these rules because nobody was progressing that fast. As ballet prodigies get younger and their abilities more extraordinary, many are asking, How young is too young to let their bodies dance on the tips of their toes?

Different techniques introduce pointe shoes at different ages. Most ballet teachers believe that pointe work is not suitable for students under 11 years old. Some believe that even 11 is pushing it. However, 12 or 13 is more common," warned the Royal Academy of Dance in a statement. But the question is a complicated one for a number of reasons.

First, there has not yet been extensive research to prove that beginning pointe work earlier than 11 is damaging. Second, chronological age and biological age can differ significantly.

At the Vaganova Ballet Academy, children start pointe work around 10 or 11 years old. But there is a catch: In Russian institutions where Vaganova is taught, young girls are carefully chosen based on their physiques.

Once accepted, they train steadily every day with highly qualified teachers to achieve their goal of becoming professional ballet dancers.

Russian dancers who settle in America often continue to teach a version of the Vaganova method in private schools. But in the U. Most children do ballet as recreation.

Only a few pursue their training with the level of dedication required of true Vaganova formation. Without a codified curriculum, teachers tend to assess pointe readiness functionally, says Richardson: "I like the way her foot points; I like the line of her tendu; I like the way she holds her torso.

Some teachers develop their own indicators over time. The problem of relying on subjective assessment is that not all teachers are equally experienced or particular. Staff at the Harkness Center for Dance Injuries suggests three objective tests teachers can use in conjunction with their subjective assessments.

Yes or no. It's black or white," says Richardson. However, even if a 9- or year-old passes these tests, it does not automatically mean they are ready. Pointe work increases the forces placed on a foot by up to 12 times their body weight and prepubescent bones are more vulnerable to injury. Yes, possibly. Well, the same goes for a ballet dancer — you must learn to dance on demi pointe before dancing en pointe.

Beginning pointe training is unique to every dancer, but throwing on a pair of pointe shoes too soon could cause injury, or worse, irreversible damage to your body and feet. Having a solid foundation is what's important before you progress to pointe. The journey to going en pointe is exactly that — a journey! For now, concentrate on flexibility and strength training to ensure you are fully prepared for pointe work when the time comes.

If you break down the mechanics of pointe work, the source of power stems from the feet. Foot and ankle strength is a pinnacle pre-requisite for any dancer transitioning from soft shoes to a pointe pair. Proper foot articulation is the base for all dancing, and this is developed by taking regular ballet classes. Pointing and flexing through the elasticity of the band will build foot and ankle strength. Another simple but effective exercise is to pick up objects with your bare toes — try pencils or marbles.

Of course, there is a great deal of individual variation. If a young dancer attempts pointework without proper strength and technique, the significant forces created by the combination of body weight and momentum can permanently damage those not-fully-developed bones. Yet if a dancer is truly ready and if the introduction to pointework is gradual and always carefully and knowledgeably supervised, if the pointe shoes are well chosen and properly fitted, there is minimal risk of injury even if the bones are not fully formed.

There are many factors we take into consideration, including age, training, strength, and physical maturity. We typically say anywhere between the ages 12 years old, a student is ready. Students must be taking a minimum of 3 hours of ballet per week to register for a pointe class. Students begin in our pre-pointe dance class. If your young dancer dreams of being on Pointe one day, give us a call and mention this article to try a FREE class on us.