En Pointe??

Question

I'm 13 and in September I'll be starting beginner teen ballet. I would really like to get en pointe, but how can I get on it quicker. I've done semi-competetive gymnastics for 2 years so my legs are pretty strong. Are there any stretches I can do, or any other things I can do to make me progress faster so my teacher will see that I'm good and strong enough to get pointe shoes? I know that I won't go on in a week or something, it will take a while. Thanks!

Answer 1

It's about more than having strong legs and being flexible (although that is important.) You must have a strong enough technique to handle doing the same technique with point shoes. I would recommend taking as many ballet and technique classes as you can. Practice on your own and ask the teacher ways that you can improve on individual moves. They might for example tell you to turn out more or to flex a certain muscle harder. Listen to what they have to say and keep that in your head while you practice. It will take a while but you can still get there it's not to late. Good luck

Answer 2

I agree,  take as many classes as possible.  

You might have the strength, but your technique will need work and experience is the only way to get technique.

Talk with your teacher about your goals and ask for their help in getting there.    After a couple of months your teacher will be able to identify your weaknesses and help you work on them.

Finally,  as a teacher some of the things I look for to see if a student is ready for pointe is emotional maturity,  attention span during class, and the ability to apply corrections immediately.    

As a gymnast you are used to thinking about your muscles and should have fairly good body awareness, which will help.   Pay attention in class and really try to understand how each move is performed and why.     Many of my students who come from gymnastics have arch backs , so fixing your posture to a correct ballet posture will be one of the first things you need to do.