Do YOU think i'm ready to begin pointe?

Question

i've been dancing on and off for about a year but for the last few months i've been taking class for 4 1/2 hours every day 5 days a week. my turnout isn't the best and my extensions could be better but i have pretty good balance. do you think i am ready for pointe? i'm currently 20 years old and i'm not sure if age could be a major factor (i used to dance when i was younger but i haven't taken class for over 4 years and just recently started again last year.) i played sports throughout high school mostly tennis and cross country...i am a bit anxious about asking my instructor because she is a slightly unapproachable slave driver haha

Answer 1

Ask you instructor if your ankles are strong enough. Whatver you are doing standing up do releves. Make sure your feet are turned out. I say keep working your turnout for a couple more months and then ask your teacher. Instructors or dance teachers( whatver you call her) well usually tell you when you are ready for pointe. I have been in ballet for 5 years( a very teqnique) class and I get to go on pointe soon. I am very pumped.

Kepp working hard and if you keep it up you could probably go on pointe in a few years. The age doesnt matter unless your feet have hardened.

Good luck.

Hope this helped.

Also sit on the floor and pointe and flex your feet parallel as hard as you can and this helps strengthen your feet.

O yeah if you don't do this then you could permanetely damage your ankles and could not dance again. Pointe hurts but I guess is fun. Never go on until your teacher says your ready.

Answer 2

I'd say do ALOT of ankle exorcises like picking stuff up with your feet while lying them down and carrying them to the opposite side....and flex and point continuously maybe while watching tv or something... it really is all in the ankles. Good luck hun_xo

Answer 3

well i jsut got on-pointe last year. my teacher is rather unapproachable as well, but she monitored all of us nad let us know when she thought we'd be ready. (:

Answer 4

To be on pointe you need really strong ankles and really strong abs - I'd work on them a tiny bit before going on pointe.  Just do millions of crunches every day and get one of those elastic bands to do exercises with to strengthen your ankles.  Good luck!

**Oh, I just went back and read your question through again - you've only been back to dancing for about a year!!!  It doesn't matter if you dance for like 16 hours a day - it takes much longer than that to be ready for pointe.  You should really be stronger (unless you're like a dance genius/miracle)**

Answer 5

No one here can tell you if you're ready for pointe. The person that should know is your dance teacher.

Good luck!

Answer 6

Just go up and ask your instructor because she will be the only one that truly knows if you are ready to begin pointe. Although she is scary, approaching her will be better than risking injuring yourself. Good luck and hope this helps!!!

Answer 7

well you have to do in order to be ready for pointe or you can ask your instructor is "are my ankles strong?"

thats wen you know you can start pointe ..its on the ankles

Answer 8

I would say you need maybe another 2 or 3 months of class before you start on pointe. You'll probably be ready then. You don't want to start too early because you can end up hurting yourself. But if you think your ankles are strong enough then you should go for it. :]

Answer 9

it doesnt matter how much you do a day its how long you have been dancing most people dance up to 8 years before they start pointe and because you are older and havent danced before you should wait, you need more time not just one year on and off sorry

Answer 10

The YOUNGEST age for people to start on pointe is probably 9 years old. As you can see, it depends mostly on your ankle strength, and slightly depends on your maturity. I see your point of view, a lot of ballet teachers can seem unapproachable, but if you don't ask her, you may never know.

To prepare yourself, try doing releves! Do them all the time! Do them while brushing your hair, raiding the fridge, do it all the time! But makes sure you turn out, or it won't do much for you. Good luck!

Answer 11

I would practice more ankle stretches and make them stronger. you want to be fully prepared to do pointe. if you have broken an ankle in the past 18 months, i would hold off for a little while longer. Age has no factor. Also, work on your stomach muscles- they help you balance and to turns on pointe. if you choose to do pointe, i would definently ask someone first. it doesn't have to be your 'slightly unapproachable slave driver' but someone who knows dance very well. Most skilled pointe dancers can tell when its time. good luck!