What should I expect from first pointe class?

Question:I am starting pointe jan. 9th so about two weeks... can anyone please fill me in on what to expect from my first few classes? Is it hard to balance on pointe shoes, does it hurt alot at first? I know I am asking for alot but I am freaking out lol i would like to know as much as possible as soon as possible, anything you know tell me it doesnt even ahve to be about my quesitons just pointe. thanks!

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I am starting pointe jan. 9th so about two weeks... can anyone please fill me in on what to expect from my first few classes? Is it hard to balance on pointe shoes, does it hurt alot at first? I know I am asking for alot but I am freaking out lol i would like to know as much as possible as soon as possible, anything you know tell me it doesnt even ahve to be about my quesitons just pointe. thanks!

First of all, don't worry about it. Your first pointe class is nothing to be nervous about. Expect to do a lot of barre work to stregthen your feet. Pointe is not hard, it's just something you have to work on to get really good. I don't think your feet should hurt all that much. Your toes may be a little sore since they're not used to it. Soaking your feet in epsom salt helps alleviate this. Therabands are a good idea. Try pointing and flexing your feet using the theraband as resitance. This helps strengthen your ankles, which is crucial to pointe. Just breathe. Everyone has to start somewhere. I'm sure you'll be fine.

when i first started pointe' class ,i had such sore feet ,,, as long as you have strong legs and your ankles don't collapse,, you should me fine. I had to stop as i had bunions and they were pushing my toes the other way and my ankles were collapsing all the time. My friends said after the first class when you get home soak your feet in metho and they will toughen up and it will also clean up any blisters,, it may sting but its worth it.. hope this helps

lots of Barre work!

Usually to start, very slow releves in first and second position facing the barre. You will do lots of rolling up and down to get the shank broken in to your arch. You may do some plies on pointe to stretch over the top of the instep and to strengthen the ankle. You may then do some eschappes at barre as well, and maybe work on sousous and bourree. It really depends on the teacher. Be prepared to be really worn out at the end of class, as lifting up out of the shoe is an entirely new experience. Your toes may be a little sore at first, where there is any friction between your foot and the shoe, but you'll quickly find tricks to alleviate the pain. Good luck!

To add to what the others have said, balancing en pointe is about as hard as balancing on demi point, except you have to make sure that your ankles stay stabilized. It didn't husr my feet at first because I was (stupidly) using too much padding and wasn't doing anything too difficult. My teacher usually teaches pointe classes like this: plies at the barre, choreographed for pointe, releve combinations (2 tendues and 2 releves in 1st position, front, side, back, side, etc.) then developes en pointe (you might not do these, as you're a beginner) then grande battmas en pointe, these don't come down in between and are very hard because you have to balance on your toes while doing forceful kicks (again, you probably won't do these yet, if at all, depending on your teacher). Then we might do echappes at the barre for beginners and in the center for more advanced students and moving combinations in the center or at the barre.

Don't worry too much. Pointe is fun! Well...until it starts to hurt...but even then it's fun. :)

when i was preparing for pointe classes, i did releves to strengthen my ankles so that my feet would be used to going onto pointe faster :-)