When can I start pointe?

Question

I started ballet as a freshman in college. For two semesters I took three classes a week. I am continuing to take three classes a week throughout the summer, and when I return to school as a sophomore, I'll again be in 3 classes a week. I have excellent turnout and point but I only have a year of experience. How soon is too soon??

Answer 1

I would disagree with Nicole. Here is my opinion on it:

The reason many girls wait so long is because when you are young your feet are still growing. Most people wait til age 12 because they don't want to damage their bone structure. Also, when young it is harder to build muscles because the level of difficulty is much less intense and for shorter amounts of time. I would suggest that you could probably go on pointe at the end of your sophomore year if you continue to work hard.

You take three classes a week, which means you have probably been building ankle strength fairly quickly. I would recommend that you stretch daily and do some releve exercises to increase ankle and calve strenght. Check out my recent post about pointe to see these exercises. Instead of doing them en pointe, you can just practice going from flat to forced arch to high releve.

I hope I helped. As always, talk to your instructor about their opinion on it. Perhaps you could start taking a private pointe class when you first begin to ensure you learn proper technique. I think with this one more year of ballet you will be ready. Good luck and happy dancing :)

Answer 2

there isnt a certain amount of time until you can start pointe. (despite what people say) Also because you are in college you dont have to wait as long as some girls because your bones have grown, so like most younger girls you wont have to wait years. It all about your technique and ankle strength. If you have good ankles and your technique is strong because if you cant do moves in soft ballet slippers it will be sooo much harder in pointe shoes. Just talk to your teacher and ask her when you can start pointe. Let her know  She may say this year..or she may say next year, just let her know that you are interested.  For me i started ballet last year took a year of private classes and started pointe the next year. and if my teacher said i was ready, then it meant i was..(she was taught by the best teacher in my town..was in out local company.. shes worked under the direction of people from nyc ballet and julliard)   Good luck with going en pointe!! ♥

Answer 3

I agree with what some of the other older dancers have said.  You don't have to wait for your bones to stop growing because they already have.  As a general rule of thumb, you should have at least 3 years of ballet before going on pointe, but that is just an average.  Some people are ready sooner, some people are ready later.  Some people will never go on pointe at all.  It depends on your strength and technique.  You're going in the right direction with 3 ballet classes a week though, and good for you taking summer classes!  That will definitely help a lot.  The best person to answer your question is your teacher - your teacher is the one who sees you every week in class and knows whether or not you are ready.  You're on the right track - keep going!  You'll be there soon!

Answer 4

nah it shouldnt matter you are definately old enough and if your strength is there you really could start on pointe..you just should ask your teacher.

Answer 5

we have a girl who just started ballet as a sophomore in high school. she takes 3 classes per week. she is now a senior in high school but got her pointe shoes as a junior. so pretty soon I would say...if you work really hard.

Answer 6

you won't be on pointe for a while my friend! i started ballet when i was three and i didn't get mine until i was in 6th grade! you need much more than three classes a week for a year and a summer that's for sure! you need the experience and strength so you don't injure your ankles and you have to be able to stand on one foot on as high an eleve as you can, which for pointe should be only on your first three toes, for 30 seconds