When can i go en pointe?

Question

I do ankle circles every day can stay in releve for 2 minuetes my ankles are VERY strong my teacher says im old enough and she'll put me on next simester or next simester and i don't meen to toot my own horn but toot! toot! i'm pretty good but.... they never put me on i need to know how to talk to my teacher about the sich. help! Thanks, Super Girl Ballerin

Answer 1

Just say, I remember talking to you about going on pointe, and I was just wondering when you think it will be the right time for me based on my current skill level.

good luck and hope this helps!!!

Answer 2

well how old are you?

my dance teacher told me i was strong enough but didn't put me on pointe until i was twelve because you can damage your feet really badly if you go up to early.

if you're older than that by a lot just talk to her before or after a class and just ask 'sorry i was just wondering when I would be starting on pointe because you mentioned it a few times but we haven't started anything like that yet.'

hope that helps and you go up soon! you'll love it i'm sure. i certainly do!

Answer 3

Well skill doesn't matter as much if your feet aren't done growing. You can really hurt yourself if you go on pointe too soon

Answer 4

Many factors come into play.  I'm a teacher and I've changed my mind about girls and even taken some off of pointe for a period of time.  In most case, we've thought that the growth spurt was done, but it wasn't.  It's very dangerous to go en pointe when you are growing (us teachers aren't making this up).  Also, if you've suffered from even a small injury, it can affect you.  Remember that being on pointe has as much to do with the whole body as it does with the ankles.  You need to be lifting "up out of your shoes" when you are on pointe.  To do this correctly, you need great posture, killer abs, proper weight distribution etc....Some of my students who started pointe "late" (in some peoples eyes) are much stronger because they're bodies were ready.   My strongest pointe dancers (now 17-18) all started around 14.  Because they were so ready, they were easy to train properly.  They also had the proper maturity and mind set to understand their own strengths and weaknesses.

Remember that if you get injured due to something that could have been prevented (like going on pointe too early), you've just ruined your career as a dancer.

Be patient, you teacher will let you know when it's time.

Happy Dancing!

Answer 5

There are many factors that teachers have to evaluate before allowing you to go en pointe.

*Your ballet technique has to be advanced enough. They will most likely want to see solid barre warm-ups, correct positioning of the hips and legs throughout all exercises. Good extension and correct arm/rib placement. Your floor work needs to be balanced and light. Turns must be stable and consistent.

*Your body must be in shape to support dancing en pointe. You should have the leg/feet strength to roll up to releve easily and stay there consistently throughout an entire class. When in releve, your heel should be straight above the ball of the foot. When you point your foot, you should have strong and flexible arches. Your feet must be able to push a new pair of pointe shoes into proper shape. Your abs and back should be strong enough to carry your body in a proper position throughout an entire class.

*Your attitude is important. Many teachers will consider your overall attitude towards ballet and how you behave during class. Pointe work is very demanding and physical. A student who is not that serious about ballet and who does not give 100% during a ballet class will probably not do well en pointe. Beginning pointe does involve some pain and discomfort, teachers want to know a student will continue working hard even when it hurts. You have to show your teachers that you are completely serious about improving you skills and you are willing to work as hard as it takes to do so.

I hope that gives a little insight as to what teachers are looking for before starting a student en pointe. This is only an overview and all teachers have their own criteria that can differ.

So the best thing to do is find time to sit down and talk to your ballet teacher about what you can do to help further your training to get you ready for pointe work.

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Answer 6

Hi Ballerina,

It was prob a mix-up. Talk to her after or before or during your next class, and just say 'oh i guess we misunderstood each other?' or something. I'm sure after talking to her you will feel better. And don't rush to go onto pointe, we don't want you getting hurt!

Grats on the 2 mins on releve, I can only go 30 seconds....

Ahaha...have a nice day =)