Pointe & Pre-Pointe
Requirements for Pre-Pointe
Students must be 11-21 years old and have their ballet teacher’s approval to enroll in the pre-pointe class. Students taking pre-pointe must also take 2 ballet technique classes during the week in addition to pre-pointe to ensure that they are building strength and endurance to be ready for pointe. If a student is only taking pre-pointe as a strengthening class and not to be evaluated for pointe readiness, they may just take 1 ballet technique class in addition to pre-pointe.
Requirements for Pointe
Our team of pointe teachers evaluate each student individually to go on pointe. Below we have listed some criteria we are looking for. If your dancer meets some of the basic requirements and wants to be evaluated for pointe they must attend the Pre-Pointe class during our school year AND summer session and then attend the pointe evaluation (see below for this year’s date). Pointe is an extra class and does not count as a ballet technique class. During our school year session, students must come to ballet class 2x a week (required classes must be taken at Turning Pointe) and their pointe class would be in addition to that. See summer requirements below.
Student must be 12 or older
Must have 3 consecutive years of ballet training
Must come to ballet technique classes at least 2x a week
Must have taken the pre-pointe class for a year
Must be entering Ballet 3b or Training 2
Must have sufficient strength to do the following:
Be able to hold their turn-out while dancing. The most basic concept of ballet is turnout. Holding turnout and using turnout muscles while dancing is a good sign of strength. If the student does not have the strength to maintain their turnout, they are not strong enough for pointe, since it is much more difficult to hold turnout on pointe.
Proper alignment, foot/leg strength, and flexibility in feet
Use Plie while dancing. Students must use their plies while dancing because this is how they get up en pointe. If they don’t use their plies, they will have to bend the leg incorrectly in order to get en pointe. Plies should be done with the knees pointing straight over their toes and with the heels down.
Keep the heels forward toward the big toe (no sickling). The most stable position for pointe work is to have the weight slightly forward over the big toe. If the weight is over the little toe, it will increase the chances of strain and injury.
Point their feet while dancing (without being reminded!) Students must point their feet while dancing in order to strengthen the muscles that pointe-work requires. If the student is not in the habit of using these foot muscles then they will not be able to support their body weight on pointe.
Pique Passe with a straight leg. Student should have enough strength to push themselves onto half-pointe. This step is harder to do en pointe and a bent leg is usually a sign of weakness.
Be able to do 32 releves in the center without ankles wiggling. Releves are excellent for building up calf muscle strength, which is vital for pointe work. The student must also go up as high on half pointe as she can, since pointe work demands this ability. A student who keeps her heels very low to the ground is not preparing her calf muscles adequately and will not have the strength for pointe work.
Be able to hold a passé balance on demi pointe. The student should be well-placed (hips square, back straight, legs turned out, and to have strength to balance on demi pointe.)
The student must be in good health and able to take a whole class. If the student frequently needs to rest because of illness or injury, she is not strong enough for the extra demands that pre-pointe and pointe work requires.
Summer Requirements for Pointe
Students on pointe must take 1 pointe class during the summer session. For students in Pointe 3, a 2nd pointe class is strongly recommended.
For studio division students, 1 ballet technique class is also required and for training students 2 ballet technique classes are required.If a pointe student does not take pointe and ballet over the summer, they will not be allowed to dance in their pointe shoes for September and will need to begin the school year in the previous year’s level until cleared by the instructor for safety reasons.
Additional Information:
Pre-Pointe will be required before Pointe 1
If a student is not ready for pointe after evaluation, they must re-take pre-pointe
If a student is coming from another studio and already on pointe, they will be evaluated in Pointe 1 and redirected as necessary
If a student is transferring from another studio and was “going to be placed on pointe”, the student will be sent to Pre-Pointe first and then on to Pointe 1 if they appear to be ready
Group pointe shoe fittings are generally done in October and February.
Pointe Evaluations will be TBD. Students will sign up for a 1 hour time slot.
Pointe for adults over 21- We have a Personal Pre-Pointe Program!
Instead of enrolling in a pre-pointe class, they will be given a pre-pointe packet full of exercises and stretches to work on in their own time. They MUST schedule a solo lesson ($55/hr) with a pre-pointe teacher to go over the material and thereafter every three months an additional solo lesson ($55/hr) to check in on progress and tweak their Personal Pre-Pointe Program.
Once they have passed a Pointe Evaluation, they have two choices for Beginning Pointe class.
Choice #1: in person solo lessons with a pointe teacher at $55/hr OR small group in person lessons for $35/hr
Choice #2: enrollment in the Beg Adult Ballet class, but working on pointe with special instructions in pointe specific work from teacher (a personalized pointe class with your peers!)