Getting ready for pointe.. help?

Question:I am starting pointe in about two weeks and I just got therbands, I would like to know if any dancer prefferably dancer en pointe that would know some good exercises. I really need to strengthn my ankles, can anyone give me specific ways to strengthen them with therabands(or without) thanks!

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I am starting pointe in about two weeks and I just got therbands, I would like to know if any dancer prefferably dancer en pointe that would know some good exercises. I really need to strengthn my ankles, can anyone give me specific ways to strengthen them with therabands(or without) thanks!

Hey!
1. do foot flexes and stretches. put the theraband around the ball of your foot, hold the ends and pull back , and slowly stretch your foot to a point and then back to a flex.

2. lie down on your back with your legs bent and feet on the floor (knees in the air), cross one leg over the other one so your legs look like a 4, except your bottom leg is bent.now put the theraband around the outside of the ball of your foot. slowly move your foot from side to side.

4. lie on your back with your feet in the air and legs slightly bent (kinda a 90 degree angle) circle your feet 8 times rotating each direction, then 4, 2, 1,1,1,1. repeat and shake your feet at the end.

3. do at least 20 eleves and releves everyday. ( you probably will slacken a bit , i did, but still try). don't forget to stretch your calves and quads after.

Hope I could help and Happy Dancing!

hiyaa I've danced en pointe for a few years now and to be honest I didn't prepare at all and my dance teacher said I went up easier than anyone she's ever had before, but my friends have been told to strengthen their ankles simply by doing relevees on each foot every day, but do it gradually because you don't want to overdo it suddenly. I had therbands, didn't use them much but I had to have them for my royal ballet junior classes. I'll try to describe the exercise...
sit on the floor with your legs stretched out. take each end of the band in each hand then stretch it away from you with one foot. don't pull too hard at first. then point your foot into the band, hold for 5 and flex your foot again. feel free to like contact me if that made no sense!!!
remember not to overdo it though just before you go on or you'll pull all of the muscles in your foot
..x

I know a lot of ballet, so I am devising 2 good barre exercises for helping you to get on
pointe......

Exercise no. 1
Use the RH to support the barre, and the right side of your body is on the L of the barre.
Start in 2nd position.
Releve on both feet. Hold the releve for 20 seconds.
Plie in 1st position for 2 seconds.
Now, bring your LF over RF to 5th position, and releve
again on both feet....hold position for another 20 seconds.
Then, do a series of LF-RF "pas courus" on demi-pointe,
all forward.......10 times each foot, exchanging LF and RF,
all in 5th position.
Then stop and try to do a full pointe in 5th position, with L arm
vertically upward...hold for as long as you are comfortable...
(about 3-5 seconds)...
And then, finally, put weight on both feet in 5th, ending the
exercise.

Exercise no. 2
Your left side is on the barre. LH is on the barre.
Start in 1st position.
Go up to releve (on demi-pointe) and immediately go to "pas
courus" LF and
RF forward (10 times), for a total of 20 steps forward.
But very small steps!!!
Then, do another series of "pas courus" LF and RF backward
(10 times), for a total of an additional 20 steps back.
Also make very small steps!!!
All of the "pas courus" should be in 1st position.
Then, put weight back on both feet in 1st position.
Finish with a releve in 1st position, but releasing LH
hold from the barre. Arms should be up in the air
veritically. Hold the releves for 20 seconds, and
finally put weight on both feet to end the
exercise.

Repeat both exercises at the barre twice or 3 times every day or every other day. This should help to stretch those ankle
muscles for pointe work.

Happy ballet dancing.....

Why is your teacher putting you en pointe if you have weak ankles? That makes no sense...

But just do LOTS of releves and flex and point your foot with the theraband around the ball of your foot and your hands pulling it back to create resistance. Make sure your foot isn't sickled when you're doing either exercise because then your weight will be on the wrong part of the shoe. (It should be on your first 2 toes, not on your pinky toe.)

Do releves with both feet. Once you've mastered that, try doing them on one foot with the other foot in coupe.