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Question: Going En Pointe in Ballet!?
I have been taking ballet for about half a year!. I know when you hear that instantly a red flag goes up, but, I have very strong legs and ankles from previous athletic activity!. My dance teacher says that I am a natural dancer and that I am ready to get pointe shoes for barre work and exercises only!. I have very good arches and can go up on releve for about 2 minutes without pain!. I can walk on releve easily!. I can passe on releve and hold it for about 30 second without shaking!. Please nothing negative or condescending!. Only constructive criticism!. The only reason why I am doing this is to find another pointe of view from an experienced dancer, so if you do not know what you are talking about I am afraid this is not the right question for you to answer!. By the way I am 13!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
As long as you are doing it at the barre and if you start off slowly (15 minutes to start) you should be fine!. You really need good technique before you "dance" en pointe!. Working at the barre will build your feet up!. Don't attempt to dance en pointe after only half a year no matter how much of a natural you are!. It takes a long time to learn proper body alignment as well as having the technique necessary!. You have to learn to do it first on flat!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
previous athletic activity will only help you so much in ballet!. its not about having the muscles, its about controlling them!
however, i got on pointe in about five months with lots of hard work and you sound like you've worked really hard so i bet your ready!.
However, do not go o npointe until your teacher specifically tells you to!. She is your teacher and she knows better than any of us do because she has actually seen your strength!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
No criticism here! I reckon if your teacher says your ready, go for it! As long as your careful, I see no reason why you shouldn't, considering you'll be supervised and it will probably help you progress faster!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
Go for it!. I went en pointe when I was 11 cause of my athletic back up!. But I had been dancing since I was 3!. Everyone is different!. Enjoy it and take your time!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
I don't doubt that you have strong legs and ankles, but do you have strong FEET!? There is a big difference between being able to hold releve and being able to control all of the muscles in your feet to get you up to that point and down from it safely!. also your age could be a problem!. Depending on how mature you are for your age, your feet may not have grown enough yet!. I know you will get several people saying "oh i started pointe at 10, 11, 12 etc) but its not a good idea!. Some people are developed enough at that point, but most are not!. If you start pointe before your foot has reached its approximate "final" size, you could seriously hinder the growth of all of those bones!.
also, while you may be a natural dancer, there is a lot you could still be learning without throwing pointe into the mix!. It takes most people years and years to master alignment, turn out, weight transfer, etc!. While you may pick it up faster than most, if you have already gotten a good hold on all of that you are sub-human!. I know that at your age going on pointe seems exciting and you just can't wait, but try!. There are many potential risks when you consider your age and lack of training!. Please don't think I am belittling your abilities because that is not my intent!. I just know that there are many ballet teachers that put kids up on pointe much too early!. Unfortunately, many of them have never studied dance sciences and don't even know kinesthetically how to properly train their dancers for pointe!. I hope your teacher is not one of them, but the odds are against her!.
There are some exercises you can try to see if the muscles in your feet are developed well enough!. If you would like to know a few feel free to email me ketett@yahoo!.com!. The explanations are a bit lengthy and I would hate to take up more room than I have!.
Good luck with whatever you decide!.Www@QuestionHome@Com