Pointe questions...?

Question

so im taking my first year of pointe this year!! yay!! so, ive been on my bloch pointe sheos for about a month and a half, and im really struggling with my technique becuase im 14 and i was put in with girls my age who have been doing pointe longer than i have; so I really need some advice and tips on everything about pointe!!!! thanks!!

Answer 1

i was in the similar situation..and i really didn't like it.

um well.. for me.. i took another class on pointe one level lower and the class that i was put in. and.. i practiced on pointe everyday. just rolling through and stuff.. i didn't take private lessons but, it really helped me. and also.. i took summer classes to catch up and stuff.

good luck on pointe =]

also.. can you answer my question? i really need an answer asap.. http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

Thanks. =]

Answer 2

Congratulations!!!

I was in the same position you are, I got thrown into an advanced class my first year, when I was 12. It was hard, and extremely frustrating!!!

Private lessons would be a great idea if you can manage it, or if there are beginner classes maybe ask your teacher if you can switch over, at least for a few months.

If you're having enough trouble in class that there is a chance you could get injured, I would advise you to take off a few months and work on your own.

If you're strong technically on flat, it isn't hard to get there on pointe. Work on releves and echappes, both are great for pretty much everything. Every day do a "barre" of sorts. And also, you'd be amazed at how just wearing your shoes around the house can help, it gets you comfortable in them and allows you to transfer that into class.

And don't neglect the flat work! It's the basis for pointe for a reason, the more strengthening and technique you get on flat, the better you'll be on pointe.

It takes time, just keep working at it and you'll get there! And don't get discouraged by the other dancers in class :)

Answer 3

I would suggest taking some private lessons with your ballet teacher. While it might sound a little excessive, it is much easier to learn proper technique from a professional in person than from people online or videos. I will suggest a few excercises but maybe you should try them in front of your teacher and ask her how you could change to do them properly

~Releves: start in parallel first and slowly roll up to demi pointe (where the balls of the feet are on the ground but the heels are up) and continue to releve. then roll back to demi pointe and back to flat. Do this 8 times and then reverse, starting with going en pointe, demi, straight. After doing both 8 times, repeat in turned out first and second positions. This can be done facing the barre, one hand on the barre, or center floor

~Another releve exercise is plie and then quickly go en pointe. This requires you to "spring up". Imagine you are scooping ice cream. You want your plie to sink in and then you want your feet to scoop under as you go to releve. The box of your pointe shoe should now be where the arch of your foot was. Repeat in parallel first, first, second, fourth and fifth either facing the barre, one hand on the barre, or center floor.

Do these exercises many times and you will grow ankle and calve strength while practicing the motion of properly going en pointe. You cannot just flail up, you have to roll through the feet and use your plie to land. As I said, it is very easy to teach yourself incorrectly or get injured, so I recommend asking your teacher to watch you do simple combinations or take private lessons.

I hope I helped! Good luck and happy dancing :)