Position:Home>Dancing> I am going to be on pointe soon, any good tips to help me prepare myself? TEN PO

Hi Dancer,

Congratulations! It's pretty exciting your first time en pointe, and I am more than happy to help you get started!.

First of all, your question about good pointe shoes is not very specific!. Pointe shoes are very particular and I would recommend getting them professionally fitted!. That means going to a shoppe that only sells pointe shoes; not a dancewear store like Dance Ten or something!. Trust me, it's the best way to go!. I've known people that have gotten hurt by getting their shoes improperly fitted!.

Russian brands of pointe shoes are built for those with very strong feet who need little support, and have high, strong arches!. Russian brands include Russian Pointes and Evas!.

English and American brand pointe shoes give a lot of support and are made well for those with rather flat arches and weaker feet!. Some examples of English and American brands are Freed of London, Capezio, and Bloch!.

There is a third type of brand that is for unusual feet!. These are Russian shoes that are stationed and manufactured in America or Europe, and therefore have influence from American and English brands!. These are the kinds I wear and are good for high, strong arches that need a little bit of extra support!. These brands are Grishkos, Sanshas, and other very obscure brands!.

Now, for strengthening the feet!. To get onto pointe, you need to have very strong muscles in your feet that are very difficult to strengthen!. It's very helpful to get an exercise band (or Theraband?) for strengthening ankles and deep arch muscles!. Try these websites for exercise bands:

http://www!.discountdance!.com/frame_set!.p!.!.!.
http://www!.thera-band!.com/store/index!.ph!.!.!.

Some exercises I recommend are the following!. First, you want to strengthen your calves and ankles, which can be done by doing multiple relevés or "killers"!. For your first time I recommend 64, and progressively increase in number each time you do them (usually I increase by increments of 8)!. I recommend using music for that, so if you have a ballet CD, or even just some of your favorite songs, play that while you're doing your killers!. This exercise should burn in your inner thighs and calves!. It strengthens the inner thighs, calves, ankles, and tarsels!.

Next, you want to take your towel or resistance band and put it flat onto the ground longways!. Sit down in front of it and put your foot on top near the edge!. Now, scrunch your toes in and out, in and out so that the towel or band moves toward you!. Once you get to the end, turn it around and do it again!. I would recommend this rotation twice on your first time, progressively increasing each time you do the exercise!. You should feel it in your entire ankle, inner arches, and upper arches!. This strengthens the deep supporting arches, tarsals, metatarsals, Achilles tendon, and deep core muscles in your feet, which allow you to safely and securely go en pointe!.

Your teacher will look for the following things before letting you go en pointe!. First, they will want to see that you can go on 3/4 pointe in regular ballet shoes or barefoot!. 3/4 pointe is involves going up not completely on the toes or rolling over, but right in the middle of the pad of your toes!. This requires strength and you may not be able to get it and hold it immediately, but as your feet strengthen, it will get easier!.

Next, your teacher will want to see impeccable technique en flat!. You can't be expected to safely and effectively perform steps en pointe if you can't safely and effectively perform them en flat!. You will need at least a triple pirouette in impeccable form, excellent barrework, and good stamina!.

Your teacher will also want to know that you've been dancing ballet for at least 4 years, give or take depending on the level of professionalism of your school!. Obviously, there are exceptions, but most of the time the school is pretty strict about their minimum experience requirements and abides by them!.

Myself, I do not use toepads!. I find it's easier to feel the floor and therefore balance!. But if you're going to wear them, I'm going to have to tell you to go with lamb's wool!. Wool allows you to feel the floor and still develop essential calluses!. They're really your best option!. As your progress as a student, your needs might change and you may decide differently!. But for now, I would say start out with lamb's wool!.

On breaking in your shoes, I recommend just walking around the house in them!. A lot of girls hammer them or put them in doors, but I don't suggest that!. It's very important that the shoe molds correctly to your foot and allows for proper technique!. Breaking them in with doors or hammers may result in uncomfortable dancing or perhaps getting hurt!.

Kudos, congrats, good luck, and keep dancing!. Hope this helped!. Remember, you can always feel free to contact me with further questions!. ?Www@QuestionHome@Com

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I know some exercises that will reduce the chance of injury!.
When you are sitting down, rotate your ankles
Put your hand on the top of your foot and gently pull downward and upward!.
Make sure you sew your pointe shoes really well and thick enough so you don't break anything!.
Replace pointe shoes as often as possible!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

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